Claude Lemieux Died by Suicide After Admitting to Relapse, Report Says
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup-winning NHL legend, died by suicide on May 28, 2026, after admitting to relapsing following 12 years of sobriety, according to an incident report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The document, obtained by The California Post, details the final hours of the 60-year-old’s life, including his confrontation with his wife, Deborah, and his son Brendan’s efforts to locate him before his death.
Heartfelt Notes and Instructions for Family
Lemieux left multiple “heartfelt” notes in his phone’s notes app before his death, according to the incident report. A Post-it note found on his phone contained instructions for accessing the messages, written in black marker: look inside phone notes 1965.
Investigators discovered the notes after his passing, which they described as “individualized” and consistent with that of a suicide note,
reflecting sorrow for his decision.
The messages were found at his family’s home-design business in Lake Park, Florida, where he was later found hanging.
Confrontation Over Relapse and Family Response
Hours before his death, Lemieux’s wife, Deborah, confronted him about a possible relapse, which she and their son Brendan had noticed over the preceding year. According to the report, Lemieux confirmed the relapse, prompting Deborah to ask him to leave their residence. She then contacted Brendan, who drove to the family’s home to discuss how they could support their father. Brendan later checked Lemieux’s phone location and found he had moved to the family’s business, where he arrived to find his father’s Ford truck in the parking lot.
Brendan removed a firearm from the glovebox of his father’s car, citing the emotional aspect of the situation,
and secured it in his own vehicle. He then entered the building, located his father, and called 911 at 3:24 a.m. Lemieux was pronounced dead shortly after authorities arrived.
Scene Details and Toxicology Results
Authorities found a bag of bedtime gummies
near Lemieux’s body, though a toxicology report listed “negative” results for all analytes. The report also noted a message on his phone, though the content was not disclosed. The incident occurred at Andros Home, the family’s business, which was described as a “warehouse” in the document.
Lemieux’s death followed a public appearance as a ceremonial torchbearer at the NHL’s Eastern Conference Final in Montreal on May 25, 2026, where he was celebrated for his career. His final days included a return to the Bell Centre, the same arena where he helped the Montreal Canadiens win their 1986 Stanley Cup.
Legacy and Personal Struggles
Lemieux played 21 seasons in the NHL, winning four Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche. He was also the 10th player in league history to win back-to-back Cups with different teams. His career included a Conn Smythe Trophy win in 1995 and 1,215 regular-season games.
Lemieux is survived by his wife, Deborah, and four children. We will see you.
