Suspect charged in killing of Pinoy mom in Calgary

A suspect in the killing of Filipino worker Arcelie Solbrito de Laoagan in Calgary, Canada had been charged with first-degree murder.

The Calgary Herald reported on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) that 21-year-old Christopher James Watcheston, a steelworker from Ontario, has been put behind bars and charged for Laoagan’s death on Jan. 19.

Laoagan, 41 years old, immigrated to Canada in 2004 after working as a nanny in Hong Kong for two years. She was returning home late Thursday night from her second job as a scanner operator at Western Canadian printing company when she was attacked near a train station.

Her roommate reported her missing Thursday night after she made a frantic call to a friend that she was being attacked, then the phone went dead.

Her blood-soaked body was found behind the Grace Baptist church Friday morning. The Calgary Police took time identifying the body as Laoagan’s because her face was mutilated beyond recognition, but her two sisters and a brother who had flown from Toronto on Jan. 21 were certain it was their sister.

Reports said Laoagan was taking two jobs because she wanted to save money and take her five children aged eight to 19 and husband to live with her in Calgary, a city in Alberta.

According to a report on Calgary Herald, Watcheston, who went to Calgary last year after losing a job in Fort McMurray, boarded the same east-bound commuter train that Laoagan took from work.

He reportedly visited his brother who was renting a basement suite in a Raddison Heights on the night Laoagan was killed. The house is a few minutes away from the Franklin station where Laoagan’s body was found the next morning.

Police searched Watcheston brother’s apartment for steel-toed boots, work coveralls and other evidence.

A neighbor said Watcheston frequently visited his brother and live-in girlfriend, but wasn't living with them. A few days ago, he was fired from his job as a steelworker working near Beddington Trail last week, the Herald reported.

Watcheston is on trial for assault stemming from a Banff brawl last year. He had been arrested breaking into a North Hill Mall shop.

He was arrested on Thursday inside a friend's home.

Laoagan’s remains are being prepared for repatriation to the Philippines.

According to kaigorotan blogsite, Laoagan was born in Naguilian, Isabela and lived in Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur with her husband and children.

She had a degree in commerce but entered Canada as a nanny. - GMANews.TV

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