Montreal Men Admit Guilt in Case of Woman’s Body Left on Couch for Six Months

Two men from Montreal have pleaded guilty to committing an indignity to a body, having admitted to leaving the remains of an Indigenous woman on their couch for six months.

Prosecutor Simon Lapierre confirmed that brothers Nicodemo and Francesco Sansalone accepted their guilt this week in connection to the death of Alasie Tukkiapik.

A statement presented in court revealed that Tukkiapik’s family reported her missing in September 2023 from the Inuit village of Kangiqusujuaq, as they had been unable to contact her for several months while she was living in Montreal.

Montreal police responded to the address where she was said to be staying and met Nicodemo Sansalone, who informed them that she had died six months earlier and had remained on the couch since.

The statement indicated that Francesco Sansalone was in a relationship with Tukkiapik but did not call 911 once she became weak and passed away, fearing her family’s reaction.

A pathologist was unable to ascertain the cause of death; however, the autopsy revealed no evidence of fractures or significant traumatic injuries.

Related Stories