The man accused of killing Mary Anne May lived with her in a Kitchener apartment for approximately two years, friends say.
May’s body was found in Tyson Park in northeast Kitchener, near the Grand River, last September.
No arrests were made in the case until Tuesday, when two Kitchener men were arrested at separate locations.
Kevin Koehler, 49, is charged with second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a dead body.
John Gallagher, 43, is charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact and carrying a concealed weapon.
Present in court Wednesday as Koehler was charged were many of May’s friends, some of whom told CTV News that she lived with Koehler in a Margaret Avenue apartment.
“He wasn’t really too pleasant of a roommate. They had a couple of altercations,” said Richard Watkins, who identified himself as May’s boyfriend.
Other friends, like Birgit Lingenberg, say they’re still struggling with the loss of May.
“There’s never closure, especially on a murder, but at least now I know when I open my front door that this guy isn’t standing there,” she says.
Koehler, who friends say was May's roommate, remains in custody with his next court appearance set for April 9.
“Mr. Koehler will have to take some opportunity to review the disclosure, to have the investigation provided to him, and the allegations will be vigorously defended,” says Koehler’s lawyer, Andrew Bond.
Gallagher also remains behind bars, with his next court date likewise set for early April.
His lawyer says he intends to plead not guilty to being an accessory to murder.
Police say they don’t anticipate further arrests, but do want to hear from anyone who may have more information about May’s death.
