CINCINNATI - A man accused of fatally stabbing his wife and killing their four children in a house fire was released from a hospital today and taken to court to face murder charges.
Quebec native Michel Veillette had been treated since Friday night for stab wounds and other injuries after he was found outside the family's burning two-storey home in suburban Mason.
After his release from a Cincinnati hospital, he was taken to Mason's municipal court for a brief appearance at which he told the judge he needed a lawyer.
Judge Andrew Batsche set a hearing for Jan. 22 for Veillette, 34, who appeared in court in handcuffs and orange jail clothing.
Veillette was then taken to the Warren County jail.
Police say he stabbed his wife, Nadya Ferrari-Veillette, 33, and set the fire that killed the children.
Ferrari-Veillette and one child, who authorities said apparently died of smoke inhalation, were dead at the scene. Hamilton County Coroner O'dell Owens said today the other three children all died from smoke inhalation.
He said their bodies had some injuries from the fire's heat, but there were no stab wounds or signs of physical assault. They died from carbon monoxide and other gases from the fire.
Veillette, a Laval, Que., native, is charged with aggravated murder, murder and aggravated arson. A grand jury is expected to decide whether the case qualifies for the death penalty.
Owens did autopsies on Marguerite, 8; Vincent, 4; and Mia, 3. Mia's twin, Jacob, 3, died in the home, Owens said, explaining there had been some confusion in earlier reports that it was Vincent because Jacob's body was also brought to Hamilton County from Warren County for identification purposes.
Relatives plan to bury the bodies to Canada, Owens said.
Some relatives travelled to Mason from Canada after the deaths. Warren County and Mason investigators have said they plan to travel to Canada to talk to relatives and potential witnesses in the case.
Veillette has been described as a self-employed engineer who travelled often. The family had lived less than two years in the custom-built home in an upscale neighbourhood in Mason, some 35 kilometres northeast of Cincinnati.
Fire officials have said an accelerant was used in the fire and that a gas can was found in the home's second floor.
