Mom of slain kids fled Vancouver to escape their father, says friend
The mother of three children who were killed on the weekend in Merritt, B.C., told a friend that she left Vancouver to get away from their father.
The woman, who requested anonymity due to concerns about her safety, told CBC News Tuesday that Darcie Clarke moved her children — Kaitlynne, 10, Max, 8, and Cordon, 5 — to Merritt last September, where her mother lives, because she was "fed up" with Allan Dwayne Schoenborn.
Schoenborn is the prime suspect in the children's slayings, but police have not been able to find him.
Her friend described Clarke as "very private" but said she became friends with a small group of mothers whose children went to the same school in Merritt.
"She was a devoted mother. She always made sure that they were at school on time. She's always there for them," said the woman who has known Clarke for about three years.
She has a son who enjoyed playing with the children.
"They were well-adjusted kids. We're going to miss the children a lot," she said.
The woman said she last spoke to Clarke on the telephone about three weeks ago."She was doing well. I asked her how the kids were doing and she said, 'They're doing great.'"
The woman said she met Schoenborn about a year ago.
"I met him a few times and I wasn't very comfortable around him. [He's] just not a very pleasant person."
Schoenborn has a history of legal troubles, according to court documents obtained by CBC News Monday. He was charged with breaching a restraining order over a threat of violence against Clarke last August. The restraining order was granted after an incident in Vancouver in May.
Schoenborn was a nice kid, says cousin
Schoenborn's cousin Val Truthwaite, who lives in Winnipeg, told CBC News Tuesday that the entire Schoenborn family was "shocked" about what happened and is praying for the children.
"On behalf of the entire Schoenborn family and his family here in Winnipeg … we just want to let [Clarke and her family] know that … we're thinking about them; we're praying for them," Truthwaite said.
Truthwaite said it has been more than 10 years since she has seen Schoenborn and she was surprised at the photo police released Monday. "He looks so gaunt and so thin."
"When we were growing up, he was just a really, really nice kid. He was so polite … and considerate."
RCMP Const. Annie Linteau said Tuesday that Clarke is now in a safe place receiving care, but would not say where she's staying.
Earlier Tuesday, Merritt Mayor Dave Laird said he was told by the RCMP that Clarke was under sedation and being comforted by people around the clock.
Neighbours said they saw Clarke leave the family's trailer home on Sunday afternoon, leaving the children with their father.
When she returned about 10 minutes later, she found the dead bodies of her three children.
School reopens Wednesday
Meanwhile, Merritt school district superintendent Byron Robie said the closure of Diamond Vale School Tuesday was because of concerns for student safety.
But a decision was made late Tuesday night that the school where the three children attended will reopen Wednesday.
Laird said counselling will be offered to community members, possibly in the form of a community healing meeting, he said.
"The community is really looking at ways of supporting [each other] in any way that they can," he said.
"Hopefully this community healing meeting will help, and give some direction as to what we need to do to basically, to work our way through, helping wherever we can," said Laird.