A 35-year-old woman who died in an arson attack in Donnacona on Monday night told her loved ones she “needed” to leave the area despite her home being vandalized shortly before the tragedy.
“I don’t know what she got herself into that made her tell me, ‘Get me out of here.’ from here“But I know there’s something there and that’s what I’m looking for,” said an emotional Maude Richard, the victim’s longtime friend.
Jessica Clement lived for several years on the second floor of a semi-detached apartment located on the 2nd floor in Donnacona.
She was the one pulled from the fire by firefighters during the arson that destroyed the building on Monday before her death was confirmed.
According to our information, while she was inside the house, the door to the patio was broken and burning shells were thrown inside.
Jessica Clement, 35, was a mother of three who had just been dropped off at their father’s home the day before the tragedy.
Photo taken from Jessica Clement’s Facebook.
“When you know the configuration of her apartment, you understand that she no longer has a way out. It’s terrible,” complains Julie Bolduc, another of her good friends.
A 17-year-old juvenile was arrested the day after the tragedy and charged in juvenile court with stalking, possession of incendiary materials and wearing a disguise with criminal intent.
” Warning “
Ms Clement’s apartment was vandalized in the weeks before the fire that claimed her life, although nothing was stolen, her family said.
The source also mentioned that she received a “warning” shortly before the tragedy.
The family of two adults and four children managed to escape within seconds of the fire starting, but they lost everything under the rubble.
Photo agency QMI, Marcel Tremblay
“She told us that she had trusted the wrong people and that she needed to leave Portneuf,” admits Ms. Richard.
The latter tried to rent her an apartment, which she was about to leave, but Ms. Clement would not take out a loan.
“That’s what worries me the most. If I had been able to get her out of there, maybe this wouldn’t have happened,” sighs the 43-year-old woman.
Heart on hand
Jessica Clement was the mother of three children aged 12 and under. They were dropped off at their father’s house the day before the fire.
The 35-year-old was a kind soul who wore her heart on her sleeve, her family said.
To enter or leave the house, the victim had no choice but to use the patio door, which led to the stairs at the rear of the house. However, it was through this door that burning shells could be fired.
Photo by Jeremy Bernier
“She was always there for others, it’s very difficult for us to understand what could have happened,” Ms Bolduc said.
“No one deserves to be burned alive anyway. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy,” concludes Maude Richard.