MRYCHKO o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2005-08-10 published
Man held in wife's death
The trucker is charged with murder in the death of Lois
MORDUE
of Woodstock.
By Jon WILLING,
Special to The Free Press
Woodstock -- A Woodstock trucker is charged with second-degree
murder after his estranged wife's body was found in her home
Monday.
The homicide probe is the city's first in nearly two years.
The body of Lois
MORDUE, 59, a Woodstock hospital worker, was
found by an officer on the main floor of her one-storey home
at 17 Wendy Calder Pl. about 9: 30 p.m., police said.
Police have not said in what condition the body was found.
The news took neighbours aback on the small street, where
MORDUE
has lived since late last year.
"It's the perfect street," one woman said.
Police went to the home after they were called about a distraught
man spotted near railway tracks in the area.
Erland Wallace
MORDUE, 57, the woman's husband, was charged yesterday
and briefly appeared in court before being remanded in police
custody.
He's to appear in court again, through a video linkup from detention,
on Friday.
Investigators are still trying to determine how
MORDUE died,
said Oxford Community police Chief Ron Fraser.
MORDUE was an employee at Woodstock General Hospital.
She had worked in the hospital's health records department for
five years, said hospital vice-president Bruce
CUNNINGHAM.
"Naturally, it was a shock for the staff to hear the news of
a colleague," he said.
Two police cruisers were parked in front of the woman's home
yesterday.
"She was a great person," said one neighbourhood resident, noting
the woman has an adult son and a daughter who lives on a nearby
street.
An officer confirmed police had a previous "dealing" involving
the woman's address, but wouldn't elaborate.
MORDUE had lived by herself in the home, neighbours said.
"She was just a sweetheart," one neighbour said.
On the other side of the city, on Walter Street, neighbours of
Erland MORDUE couldn't believe he's accused of murder.
"I'm just totally shocked," said Kathy
MRYCHKO, adding
MORDUE
drives a truck for a local carrier and often worked.
"When he was here, you couldn't have a better neighbour," she
said.
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