BRIGHTON, Ont. – Neighbours of a murdered Canadian Forces woman are reeling with news the CFB Trenton base commander is charged with her murder.
“I’m shocked,” Jocelyn Kieffer, 20, a next-door neighbour of slain Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 37, said Monday.
“We’re almost all military families on this street.”
Police announced Monday in Belleville that an arrest had been made in the recent murders of Jessica Lloyd, 27, of Belleville and Comeau of Brighton.
CFB 8 Wing Trenton base commander Russell Williams, 46, is charged with the first-degree murder of both women, as well as for two separate sexual assault and home invasions that took place in the Tweed area in September of last year.
Lloyd was last seen Jan. 28. Her body was discovered Sunday at the cottage owned by Williams in Tweed.
Comeau, a flight attendant and corporal with the Canadian Forces at 437 (Transport) Squadron, was found murdered Nov. 25, 2009, at her Brighton home.
Kieffer is relieved there's an arrest in the murders but is having a difficult time dealing with the fact that the accused is a base commander and therefore someone they all would trust.
“There are no words I can put into how I feel right now,” Kieffer said. “I’ve known other base commanders and it’s not something you think can happen.
“It’s not easy to deal with. Our homes are just two feet apart.”
Terry Alexander, who lives across the street from the Comeau residence, said he’s glad the situation is coming to an end.
“I hope the case is closed and we feel safe now,” Alexander said. “We moved away from Mississauga to get away from this type of thing and here it is happening at my front door.”
Northumberland OPP Staff Sgt. Phil Pike said there would be no comment from the local detachment.
Members of the Northumberland OPP conducted a door-to-door investigation throughout last week, but Pike would not reveal whether their investigation lead to the arrest of Williams.
