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© Radio-CanadaJuliette Fillion, 8, and her sister, Laurence, 11, died in Saint-Romain, Que., on Friday.
A small Quebec town is in mourning Sunday after a Quebec man was charged with killing his nieces and his mother, who were found dead in their family home.

Pascal Morin, 35, was arrested Friday night after authorities found the bodies of two girls and his 70-year-old mother in a rural house in Saint-Romain, a small community between Lac-Mégantic and Thetford Mines. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Morin was in his mother's house when police arrived at the crime scene around supper time Friday, after receiving an emergency phone call.

The victims have been identified as Ginette Morin, 70, and her two granddaughters, Juliette and Laurence Fillion.

Ginette Morin was a retired school teacher who taught in the region for several years, and her students included many residents of the town of 600.

"We are heartbroken here," local restaurant owner Michelle Lessard said. "These are people that we knew very well."

Media outlets in the region are reporting Pascal Morin suffered from mental illness, possibly schizophrenia. He is scheduled to appear in court later this week.

Police won't divulge the weapon used but say it was not a gun.

The girls' mother was away on holiday in Mexico at the time.

The girls' paternal grandfather is Saint-Romain's current mayor Jean-Luc Fillion.