The Poisoning of Monique Brochu
Jury leaving the Brochu house after a tour during trial
A treat gone horribly wrong? Or a calculated murder in cold blood?
When Armand Brochu served his wife a vodka cocktail one November night at their home in Biddeford, Maine in 1966, he had no idea that just a few days later she would be dead.
The autopsy showed she’d died of methyl alcohol poisoning, a liquid chemical similar to ethyl alcohol—the one we drink in alcoholic beverages—except only one will kill you. What was methyl doing in Monique’s system?
But somebody had seen more than they should. Armand’s 12-year-old daughter, Nancy. And Nancy decides to go to the Biddeford Police to tell them what she saw the night of November 18th. Less than three hours later, Armand Brochu is placed under arrest for the murder of Monique.
Armand insists he’s innocent. He would never kill his wife. He had no reason to. He needed her. But the judge at his probable cause hearing isn’t so sue, and Armand finds himself having to take the stand to defend himself. But the prosecution has a star witness. One who is skipping her junior high classes to testify against her father. What did Nancy see that night that warranted the arrest of her father?
Did Armand Brochu murder his wife? You decide.
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Monique Brochu
Armand Brochu (back right) heads to trial
Sources For This Episode
AP Via Bangor Daily News (no author listed)
Biddeford Man Charged in Wife's Death, December 6th 1966
Murder Case Continued, December 12th, 1966
Trial Date Continued, January 18th, 1967
Brochu Trial Gets New Date, March 22nd 1967
Defense Says Malice not Proven, February 6th, 1968
Biddeford-Saco Journal (no author listed)
Daughter Key Witness in Hearing, December 14th 1966
Brochu Jury Picking Begins, January 29th, 1968
Brochu Admits to Mixing Wood Alcohol Cocktail, February 6th 1968
AP via Portsmouth Herald (no author listed)
Biddeford Man Bound Over in Death of Wife, December 17th 1966
Brochu Trial Moved Back, January 19th, 1967
Biddeford Man Faces Murder Charges Trial, January 23rd, 1968
Testimony Begins in Brochu Case, February 2nd 1966
Schoolmate Testifies in Brochu Case, February 5th 1968
Jury Finds for Brochu, February 8th 1968
Additional Sources
Media and Credits
Photo of Monique shared by her great-grandaughter
Other photos from the Biddeford Saco Journal
Goodbye (1935) Performed by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra.
Researched, written, told, and edited by Kristen Seavey
This episode was also co-produced by AKA Studio Productions
Editing support by Jaqueline Pena