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.

The bodies of two girls and a 70-year-old woman were found in this rural house in Saint-Romain, Que. northeast of Sherbrooke. (Radio-Canada)

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."

Three psychologists will be sent to the local school Monday morning for support.

Staff at the École des Sommets are in shock, said principal Marcel Boulanger.

"We don't know what to do with [the girls'] belongings," he told Radio-Canada. "We're not sure how to act when students come back."

Laurence was in Grade 5, and Juliette was in Grade 2.

Suspect back in court Monday

Media outlets in the region are reporting Pascal Morin suffered from mental illness, possibly schizophrenia.

He is scheduled to appear at the Sherbrooke courthouse on Monday.

Police have not divulged the weapon used in the incident but have said it was not a gun.

The girls' mother was away on holiday in Mexico at the time and returned to Quebec when authorities contacted her Friday night.

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