North businessman, wife found dead

North Attleborough businessman Norman Langelier set his Cumberland, RI home ablaze after shooting his wife, Beatrice, 60, in the head last Thursday morning, according to police.

Langelier, 61, was president of Barber Electric Manufacturing on Chestnut Street.
The preliminary investigation has revealed that Langelier had placed six propane tanks throughout the two-story home at 500 Nate Whipple Highway. Investigators found the charred remains of the two victims, and concluded that Norman Langelier had died as a result of the explosion and that he had made no attempt at escape, that his wounds were consistent with the blunt trauma of an explosion.

According to the medical examiner, Beatrice's cause of death was "skull fractures and brain injuries due to a perforating gunshot wound to the head."
Neighbors reported hearing an explosion, and when the first firefighters arrived the house was fully engulfed.

Firefighters were also met with a note attached to a propane tank in the back of Langelier's truck warning personnel not to enter the home because of the impending danger of explosives inside.

Police removed 40 guns, handguns and rifles, and bullet making equipment from what remained of the home. Langelier had permits for all of the guns.

Police Chief John J. Desmarais said police were investigating a motive and would not speculate on what led Langelier to commit the act. It is Cumberland’s first murder in more than a decade.

The Langelier's had been married for 40 years, and had no children.

Langelier kept to himself and his business and was not well known among the business community in North Attleborough.

Former North Attleborough-Plainville Chamber of Commerce President, long-time Downtown Associates of North Attleborough (DANA) member, business owner Shirley Nolin said that she did not know Langelier personally and that he did not participate in any DANA or Chamber networking events.