Preliminary autopsy suggests detective's death a suicide

The preliminary findings of an autopsy on the body of retired Det. Sgt. Ian Davidson appear to confirm the police theory that the former member of the Montreal police force took his own life, according to the latest report from Radio-Canada.

The 33-year veteran of the force was discovered dead in a Laval hotel room on Wednesday.

According to information obtained by Radio-Canada investigative journalist Alain Gravel, Davidson's wife and 10-year-old daughter had spent the night with him in the hotel on Tuesday – fleeing there in fear for their safety after Davidson learned from police earlier Tuesday that his name was to appear in a Montreal newspaper on Wednesday morning.

Montreal police had been investigating their former colleague on the suspicion that he'd tried to sell a list of informants to the Mafia for $1 million.

Radio-Canada reported Davidson's wife left their hotel room early on Wednesday to drive their daughter to school, alerting police later when she was unable to reach her husband.

According to the police version of events obtained by Gravel, police have no evidence the retired detective's life had been threatened, although it is clear the family was sufficiently concerned about its safety to seek refuge.

Leak investigation continues

Davidson was never charged in connection with the alleged leak of the informant list, although La Presse reported on Wednesday he had been arrested in October at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport before boarding a flight to Costa Rica.

Montreal police say their investigation will continue in spite of his death.

Public security minister Robert Dutil says he is concerned about the alleged leak but says he has full confidence in Montreal's Police Chief Marc Parent.

"Mr. Parent is aware that he had a problem," said Dutil, "and he has to find a better solution, but I want to repeat, this problem has been managed since April, well."

Laval police said their investigators observed the autopsy and still believe Davidson committed suicide.

"We are not involved in Montreal's investigation – that aspect with the leaking of information and organized crime," said Laval police constable Franco Di Genova. "We are dealing with the death of a person which seems to point toward suicide."