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Wendelle Coq-Thelot, a former Supreme Court judge who had been on the run following her alleged involvement in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, has died. Coq-Thelot, whose death occurred on Friday afternoon, was reportedly rushed to a hospital in Marmelade after experiencing a medical emergency. She was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Family members reported that Coq-Thelot fainted after having a nightmare during her sleep. She was transported urgently to a hospital but did not survive. According to sources close to the family, the 63-year-old had been battling diabetes, a condition that may have contributed to her sudden demise. The exact cause of her death has not yet been confirmed by medical authorities.
Her death was reported at approximately 4:00 PM, marking an abrupt end to months of uncertainty for the former judge.
The Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) had issued a search notice for Coq-Thelot as part of its investigation into the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Despite the notice, she had not been formally charged by the investigating judge. This legal ambiguity left her in a precarious position, with many questions surrounding her status.
Coq-Thelot had publicly denied involvement in the assassination, maintaining her innocence. Family sources revealed that she lived in fear and distress during her time on the run, uncertain whether the DCPJ’s notice was still active and frustrated by the lack of resolution in her case.
Coq-Thelot’s death raises concerns about unresolved aspects of the investigation into Moïse’s assassination. Her lack of formal indictment despite being named in the case leaves a critical gap in understanding her role, if any, in the events surrounding the president’s killing.
Her passing also brings to light the physical and emotional toll on individuals living under prolonged legal uncertainty. Coq-Thelot’s family described her as deeply distressed in her final months, living with indignation over her fugitive status.
Authorities have not yet commented on how Coq-Thelot’s death might impact ongoing investigations into Moïse’s assassination. It remains unclear whether any formal closure to her legal status will be pursued posthumously. The case continues to be one of the most significant and controversial in recent Haitian history, drawing both domestic and international attention.
