How to Make Sense of the Insensible

"They thought about calling 911, but they didn’t because they were scared of the victim’s family."

"They put a blanket over the corpse of Mrs. Tukkiapik. They used air spray for the odour. "

"[Francesco] stayed six months in the house with his brother and the body of Mrs. Tukkiapik."

"They explained to the police that during the week of Sept. 12 [2023] at three different times, people went to see her at the house, but that Frank refused to let them inside the house."

"Immediately upon entering, the officers noticed the strong smell of a dead body. The house was a complete mess and was in unsanitary conditions."

"Inside the living room, they noticed a human silhouette on the couch underneath a blanket with the feet sticking out. Underneath the blanket, the officers found the corpse of Mrs. Tukkiapik, who was in a mummified state."
Prosecutor's statement to the Court

 

"She is there on the couch [to police]. She [has been] laying on the couch for the last six months."
"l should have called to let you guys [police] know. But my brother Frank didn’t want me to call you and he ran away a few weeks ago."

"He left me alone with her. She died around Feb. 12. I wish l could go back in time."

Nicodemo Sansalome

Francesco Sansalone, left, and Nicodemo Sansalone, centre, have pleaded guilty to leaving the body of Alasie Tukkiapik, right, on their couch for six months in 2023. Montreal Gazette/Facebook

Pleading guilty to committing an indignity to a corpse, Prosecutor Simon Lapierre confirmed that brothers Nicodemo and Francisco Sansalone had admitted guilt in the death of Alasie Tukkiapik, an Inuk woman who was an intimate partner to Francesco/Frank. The indignity in question was their having left the body of the Indigenous woman lying on a sofa in their home for six months. When the Inuk woman, 41, died after an illness for which they explained she had refused to seek medical treatment, they simply carried her to the sofa, covered her with a blanket and left her to slowly decompose for six months.

 

The woman's family had reported her missing in the Inuit village of Kangiqusujuaq in September 2023, following their inability to contact her for a period of several months. They knew she had a boyfriend, that his name was Frank, and that she was living in Montreal. They relayed that information to police. When Montreal police showed up at the address they were given, Nicodemo Sansalone informed them that she had been dead for  six months. "She is there on the couch ... she is laying on the couch for the last six months", he informed the police officers. 

The statement of facts provided to the court described Tukkiapik's relationship with Francesco Sansalone; that the two lived off and on with Nicodemo Sansalone. Testifying that his girlfriend had become fragile and was bleeding but refused to see a doctor or go to hospital, Francesco Sansalone emphasized he had encouraged her to seek medical assistance, but she had refused. "She was my girlfriend. It was her choice [to not be taken to a hospital]."

According to the statement of facts, Francesco Sansalone failed to call 911 when his partner died, owing to his fear of her family and what they might possibly be inclined to do to him. The brothers ended  up leaving the body of Alasie Tukkiapik where it rested, where she had been placed, when she died. They made use of a fragrant spray to cover the odour of her decomposing body. A few of Tukkiapik's family members had attempted to reach her, visiting the home on a few occasions, but were refused entry.

The court statement went on to report: "He [Francesco Sansalone] is sorry and he wishes to change things. He says that he is already dead inside, that he died at the same [time] as Tukkiapik". The cause of the woman's death could not be determined by a pathologist; the autopsy failed to show any evidence of fracture or significant traumatic injuries.

The day that Tukkiapik's body was found Nicodemo Sansalone was arrested. His brother Francesco was arrested the following month when he was finally located. May 9 has been set for their sentencing.