‘I want to know why’: Timberlea residents react to Gallant murder charge
Posted Aug 19, 2010 05:27:34 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The arrest of Paula Gallant’s husband in her murder has transformed the quiet community of Timberlea.
Jason MacRae is now in custody, facing a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the 2005 death of his wife.
The development has rumors and reaction flying around the neighbourhood where the couple shared a home with their young daughter.
The tidy duplex sits near the corner on Silver Maple Drive overlooking part of Half Mile Lake in Timberlea, just minutes from the school where Paula Gallant taught.
Neighbours say there have been rumors about MacRae, who police say was a person of interest since early in the investigation of the 2005 murder.
“I heard a lot of people say before about how they thought it was him and stuff,” said one woman who lives in the area. “I always tried not to believe it. I thought he was hiding away and stuff because he didn’t want people looking at him weird.”
Others are wondering what lead to the death of the popular teacher.
“I want to know why,” said another woman. “Hopefully they share that with us. I think we deserve to know after living like this for so many years.”
One man says the whole situation is literally too close to home.
“Everybody always thinks of these things happening far away, even if it’s just in Dartmouth,” he said. “When it happens locally, it’s just so shocking.”
MacRae has been arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder and will return to court on Sept. 17.
