For almost three months, friends and family of Cpl. Marie-France Comeau had no answers to the simple question of who killed the beautiful military flight attendant.
On Monday they learned the corporal attached to 437 Squadron at CFB Trenton was allegedly murdered by her own base commander, Col. Russell Williams.
As news of the arrest spread, friends and family wrote on the Facebook memorial to Comeau that remembered her as a charming, intelligent, generous hard worker and loyal friend.
"RIP sweet girl," one friend wrote. "You live on in our hearts."
Another woman noted the deeper tragedy that Comeau, who dedicated the last 12 years of her life to the military, allegedly was slain by her own base commander.
"You proudly served our country and you were taken away (allegedly) by someone who was supposed to be our and your leader," the woman wrote.
Comeau's body was discovered Nov. 25 by her boyfriend, who is also in the military, inside her Raglan St. home in Brighton.
At the time, neighbours said her boyfriend came running out of the house toward the road, yelling, "she's dead inside the house."
Comeau was laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Ottawa on Dec. 4.
Despite Comeau having served in Trenton for less than a year, her colleagues remembered her fondly.
"Marie will be missed by all her comrades at 437 Squadron," CFB Trenton public affairs officer Capt. Mark Peebles told reporters in November.
Neighbours of Comeau were shocked in the wake of Monday's arrest of her alleged killer, who is also charged with the murder of a Belleville woman and the sexual assault of two women in Tweed.
"We're almost all military families on this street," said Jocelyn Kieffer, a next-door neighbour.
"There are no words I can put into how I feel right now."
Terry Alexander, a neighbour 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.
DON.PEAT@SUNMEDIA.CA
