Timeline: Russell Williams case

A timeline in the case of Col. Russell Williams:

September 2009

During separate home invasions in the Tweed area, two women are victims of sexual assault. They are both bound to chairs and photographed.

Oct. 29

Authorities search the Tweed home of Larry Jones, a neighbour of Colonel Russell Williams, looking for computer digital storage devices, black and purple bras from La Senza, thong underwear, two baby blankets, pornographic photos and videos, white shoes and zip ties, among other items. Jones is cleared as a suspect.

Nov. 25

Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, a 37-year-old flight attendant at CFB Trenton, is found dead in her Brighton home.

Jan. 28, 2010

Jessica Lloyd, 27, is last seen alive. She is reported missing the next day when she fails to show up for work at Tri-Board Student Transportation Services in Napanee.

Feb. 4

In their bid to find information about Lloyd’s disappearance, OPP and Belleville police set up a road block on Highway 37 near Belleville, and stop and question motorists for 11 hours. Col. Russell Williams, 46, commander of 8 Wing Trenton comes to the attention of the police during the roadblock because of a distinctive tire tread on his SUV.

Feb. 7

Russell Williams is arrested in connection with the deaths of Lloyd and Comeau.

Feb. 8

Police discover the body of Jessica Lloyd off Carry Road, in the Municipality of Tweed,

Williams appears in court in Belleville. He is also charged with two counts of forcible confinement and two counts of break and enter and sexual assault relating to the two September 2009 home invasions.

He is remanded into custody and is due back in court in Belleville Feb. 18.

Feb. 9

Ontario Provincial Police investigators remove two grocery-sized bags of belongings from Williams’ Ottawa home.

Police agencies across the country look for information about cold cases in their areas.

Feb. 10

Gen. Walter Natynczyk visits Canadian Forces Base Trenton to boost troop morale.

Feb. 11

A dozen OPP forensic officers carrying boxes arrive at the Ottawa home owned by Williams shortly before 12:30 p.m. Three unmarked cars led two Ontario Provincial Police forensic vans to the three-storey home.

Feb. 12

Police investigators continue their search for hidden keepsakes stored in Williams’ Westboro home, where they recovered stolen lingerie the day before. Williams allegedly told police where they would find certain items when interviewed at Ottawa police headquarters on Sunday.

Feb. 17

Russell Williams is remanded to March 25 on murder and sexual assault charges after a brief appearance in a Belleville court. Williams appears through a video link with the Quinte Detention Centre in nearby Napanee. He retains prominent Ottawa defence lawyer Michael Edelson.

March 26

Williams signs off on a transfer of his Ottawa home to his wife.

April 3

Williams tries to kill himself just before Easter Sunday by stuffing cardboard from a toilet paper roll down his throat. Sources from the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee, say that at about 5 a.m. on Saturday, Williams used mustard to write a suicide note on the wall of his cell. The note said his affairs were in order and that his feelings were too much to bear.

April 7

Off suicide watch, Williams goes on a hunger strike

April 29

Williams is charged with 82 break-and-enters – 46 in Tweed, Ont., where he has a cottage, and two in Belleville, along with the 34 in Ottawa.

May 6

A $2-million lawsuit is launched against Williams and his wife by one of his alleged victims in a Belleville court. In the statement of claim, the 21-year-old woman says she has suffered severe depression and addiction since the alleged attack. It also alleges that Williams fraudulently transferred his Ottawa home to his wife to protect it from legal action.

June 2010

As part of the lawsuit, Williams’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Harriman, files a statement of defence saying the home transfer was not "fraudulent" and there was nothing "untoward or suspicious about it." Harriman says that she entered into a domestic contract with her husband to provide her with financial security.

June 24

Williams appears before a judge by video link from the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee in a brief hearing called at the request of Williams’ lawyer, Michael Edelson. Edelson asks for more time to review documents released by prosecutors. Williams is remanded in custody to appear by video July 22.

July 22

Williams makes a brief video court appearance in Belleville and is to appear in court again on Aug. 26 for a pre-trial hearing.

August 26

Williams waives his right to a preliminary hearing to evaluate the strength of the Crown’s case, and is committed to stand trial on October 7.

October 7

Williams’ lawyer says his client intends to plead guilty to charges of first-degree murder, sexual assault, and break and enter.