What happened to Fallon Farinacci? Details about the Crime Junkie podcast subject, explored
Fallon Farinacci’s life was changed by an event when she was just nine years old. The case is covered in the Crime Junkie podcast titled SURVIVED: Fallon Farinacci. It aired on May 5, 2025, on their website. On the night of January 27, 1993, Fallon’s parents, Sherry and Maurice Paul, were killed in a murder-suicide inside their home in St. Eustache, Manitoba.
The person responsible was a man named André Ducharme, who had become obsessed with Fallon’s mother and had been stalking her. In an eight-hour standoff, Ducharme broke into their residence with a rifle, bound the oldest son, and later shot and killed both parents before turning the weapon on himself (CBC News, 2021; Femicide Watch).
Fallon and her two brothers were present in the residence at the time of the assault. Her 17-year-old older brother, Carson, was bound but escaped and alerted other relatives nearby. But when they called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the police were slow to respond.
Newspaper accounts state police took almost six hours before entering the residence. All three adults—Fallon's mother and Ducharme, as well as her father—were already deceased by then (Crime Junkie Podcast; Scott Agnew Blog).
This incident orphaned Fallon and her brothers and raised serious concerns regarding the police response to the incident. It is believed by many that the lives of Sherry and Maurice would have been saved if the RCMP had moved earlier (Femicide Watch).
The long-term impact on Fallon Farinacci and her family
Following the murder of her parents, Fallon Farinacci relocated to Ontario to live with relatives, while her brothers remained in Manitoba. The trauma's emotional effect lingered on. Her eldest brother, Carson, who had survived the ordeal that evening, still grappled with the mental issues caused by the trauma.
Carson took his own life in 2004 at age 29. Fallon is convinced that the unresolved sadness and a failure to receive proper mental health treatment contributed significantly to his death (CBC News, 2017).
Fallon Farinacci has also discussed losing touch with her Métis heritage after her parents passed away. Her father, Maurice Paul, was Métis, and Fallon explains that being removed from that culture left her feeling disconnected from who she is. She was denied the opportunity to learn about the traditions, language, and values that were a part of her family's Indigenous heritage (Canadian Women's Foundation).
Speaking out and helping others
Despite the tremendous suffering, Fallon Farinacci has opted to utilize her experience to support others. She gave evidence before the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) to bring to the fore how shortcomings in the policing and justice systems significantly impacted her family.
Her evidence centered on how stalking, domestic violence, and inadequate police response can have fatal consequences, particularly for Indigenous women and families (CBC News, 2017).
Fallon Farinacci is an Indigenous justice activist. Her work revolves around raising awareness on the difficulties faced by Indigenous communities, particularly when it comes to violence and trauma. She has also fundraised for Indigenous-led groups, such as the Abbey House Transitional Home for Indigenous women and the Manitoba Metis Federation in her hometown of St. Eustache.
Her efforts have raised thousands of dollars to aid survivors and programs for community healing (CBC News, 2021; Canadian Women's Foundation).
Through public speaking and social media, Fallon continues to tell her story. She urges others who have suffered loss or trauma to find healing and strength in community. Her work has inspired countless people and shed more light on the systemic problems that lead to violence against Indigenous peoples in Canada (Femicide Watch; Crime Junkie Podcast).
For more details about this incident with Fallon Farinacci, interested readers can listen to the Crime Junkie Podcast episode.
