Welches man sentenced to life in prison for killing wife

CLACKAMAS COUNTY Ore. (KPTV) - A man was found guilty by a Clackamas County jury of killing his wife in 2024 and sentenced to life in prison on Thursday.

Michael Fournier was facing charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon after the death of his wife Susan “Phoenix” Lane and her two dogs in November 2024, just two weeks after Lane filed for divorce.

Susan Lane was originally reported missing by a coworker, and after multiple days of a search and rescue operation, her body was later found near the home she shared with Fournier.

His seven-day trial wrapped up on Wednesday.

After about five hours of deliberation on Thursday, the jury found Fournier guilty on both charges. In addition to the guilty verdicts, the jury also determined that this was a domestic violence crime.

During victim impact statements, Dakota Lane, Susan Lane’s son, spoke directly to Fournier.

“I never liked you from the moment I met you. And now I’m shaking with fury,” Dakota Lane said.

Friends described Susan Lane as a strong, vibrant woman and said she is missed every day.

“She was fierce, she was an individual, she was not scared to be who she was,” said Cari Gesch, a friend of Susan Lane. “From the beginning, we knew she was not a missing hiker. We knew he was responsible.”

Khristen Prudence, another friend, also mentioned Susan Lane’s two dogs in her statement, which Fournier is accused of killing.

“It doesn’t bring her back, it doesn’t bring Elrond or Elros back but her truth is in the light and her story is being told,” Prudence said.

Fournier is still facing two counts of first-degree aggravated animal abuse in connection with the two dogs’ deaths.

Fournier, who is in his 70s, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years.

After Fournier was sentenced, Shannon Kmetic, one of Fournier’s attorneys, spoke to the court. While holding back tears, Kmetic acknowledged the emotional burden this case has carried. She said in her experience, domestic violence cases are some of the most important to be heard in court.