Women shocked by creeper charges

Women shocked by creeper charges
Posted By Jason Miller
April 29th, 2010


Jason Miller

The Intelligencer

Startling revelations about Col. Russell Williams being charged with 82 additional break and enter related offences was greeted with mix emotions by women in Belleville yesterday.

The new charges have been the main topic of discussion in the Friendly City, since it made media headlines. Hordes of media personal could be spotted in the downtown core on Thursday, as Williams made a five-minute video appearance at the Victoria Avenue provincial court.

Katrina Bradley said she "couldn't believe it" when news of the charges surfaced Thursday morning. Bradley was shocked by the barrage of charges and "how spread out it was."

"It really struck the core of our community," she said. "You don't know who to trust."

Bradley is curious as to how a criminal managed to move throughout so many neighbourhoods and commit the break-ins undetected. She said the latest bombshell news makes her think that investigators have "just started to scratch the surface."

She said the victims and their family's are left with the daunting task of finding closure amid the glare of the media.

"It makes me want to cry," she said.

Julie, who didn't give her last name, shared a smiler sentiment. She said the community is still coming to grips with the lost of Jessica Lloyd, for who's murder, Williams is charged. Julie said she was "floored" when she heard of the new discoveries, through a radio report.

"There are going to be other things that are going to come up if they continue digging," she said.

"His name is something we will remember forever," She added. "He was all over the place. Wherever he lived he left a trail. We just caught up to him."

She said, if the allegations are true, it must be heart wrenching for William's wife to come to grips with the fact that she was "living with a psychopath."

"There must have been some red flags," she said.

Tammy Gunter agreed that things went too far for her comfort. The Frankford woman said she's now more cognizant of suspicious activity in her area.

"He was actually living among us," she said. "It could have been anybody."

The hair stylist at the Pinnacle Street based Foxy Hair and Esthetics called the new charges "shocking.

"It makes you scared and more aware," she said. "I'm nervous of almost anyone looking at me. It's really sad that it was able to get to this point."

Williams was previously charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of a Belleville woman and a CFB Trenton flight attendant.

The body of Jessica Lloyd of Belleville, was found on Feb. 7. Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, of Brighton, was discovered dead in her home last November.

Williams also faces two counts each of sexual assault and break and enter with intent in connection with a pair of home invasions in the Tweed area.

Williams was arrested in his Ottawa home Feb. 6.

Annie Macgregor said her door is always kept locked for extra protection.

"It's really shocking although not surprising," she said. "It was expected, because they were looking into his past."

"It makes me feel sick," she said. "I feel sadness for those women who have to deal with that on a daily basis."

jmiller@intelligencer.ca
Article ID# 2557062