NHL legend Claude Lemieux relapsed into sex addiction prior to his suicide, according to statements his son gave to police officers following his death.
Police body camera footage showed officers interviewing Lemieux’s son Brendan shortly after Lemieux’s body was discovered on May 28. Brendan Lemieux told officers that his mother discovered that Lemieux was no longer “sober.”
“Long story short, my mom finds out that he’s not sober anymore. And that’s what triggered this tonight,” Brendan Lemieux said in the video, via Edward Lewis of the California Post. “When I say sober, he has more issues with — his most sober thing is sex addiction versus alcohol. I don’t even know if he’s been drinking.
“We’ve noticed changes in his behavior, and recently, it’s spiraled completely.”
Brendan added that his mother had told Lemieux to “get out” after that confession on the evening of May 27. Several hours later, Brendan grew concerned when he had not heard from his father, and found him dead at the family business shortly after.
Lemieux died at 60 following what was publicly revealed to be suicide. He had just appeared at a Montreal Canadiens playoff game two days prior to his death. He played in 1,215 NHL games during his career and won the Stanley Cup four times.
