Coping With the Aftermath of Col. Williams

Photos

Beautiful Scenic Tweed Marred by the Reflection of a Murderer

see larger image

uploaded by freedomcrow

 I moved to Tweed, Ontario in Novemeber 2009. I fell in love with the area, it is so quaint and hilly surrounded by lush pine forests. It was a move I had to make to get away from the haunting of the murder in Cobourg of a young woman, Rachel Russell, that happened in the co-op I just moved in weeks before. It remains unsolved. I moved to that small town after becoming tired of the high crime in London, Ontario.

I never heard of women being tied up and sexually assaulted here in Tweed, not until Jessica went missing.

When we were warned it was an awful feeling. If my husband was away, I was nervous letting the dog in. I shut the door fast expecting someone to force it in on the other side.  Like everyone else,  I was hoping for a better outcome.

Did I encounter this man? I can't say for certain 100%. When Jessica was missing, but before any warnings, I was in the grocery store and was very unsettled by a man's behavior. I was in the produce section and this guy planted himself in front of me with this odd grin. I thought he looked well heeled, smart, I'm plain and simple, he was  not the kind of guy that would normally be taken by me. I didn't know what he wanted with me. We didn't speak, I just smiled wrly back and moved on. Next thing I know he's jumped out in front of me again, I'm married and didn't respond to his attention. The 3rd time, all in a space of a minute, he is in front of me again, there was something about him, his smile, something about him where I didn't want to meet his eyes, I was unnerved by him, I moved away from him annoyed. I almost mentioned it to my husband who was waiting in the car.

 When the warning did come out, I felt like the hills had eyes. There was one morning our new pup barked for the first time like a guard dog, we both sat up, my husband said what's he barking at?

I didn't think about the grocery store incident at all until I after he was caught and they posted his picture. I thought he looks like he could very well be that man. He has the same stature, carriage, but am I postive, I don't want to know.

I live just off of 37, 3 kms. from his home.

Now press is out everywhere. I knew the would be once it was out who he was. It will be a while before this settles down. For now I go shopping elswhere. I'm a little overwhelmed and would rather not have a micro-phone sticking in my face.

Tweed will never be the same, it is has a stain that will never go away. This man took away the serenity I was charmed with when I bought a home here. Now it is a curiousity.

Shame on Col. Williams for what he has taken from so many people, his unit, the townspeople and especially the families that have to live with the horror their loves ones went through.

We can go on and try to restore what we once had, but it is forever altered.

Rachel Russell of Cobourg still unsolved, her family needs to know, that town needs to know who did this so women there will feel a little more at ease. I haven't forgotten you Rachel and I never will until your killer is brought to justice!!! Please call Cobourg police if you have any information.

One more thing, please respect our soldiers, they give their lives for our country. Don't let the actions of an animal reflect on them. They are as much in shock as any of the rest of us!

"$50,000 reward for information on the murder of Rachel Russell"