Former inmate shocked Raymond Cormier accused of killing Tina Fontaine

A man who spent years in a federal prison says he was shocked to hear his former friend has been charged in the death of Tina Fontaine, whose body was pulled out of the Red River in August of 2014.

Dale Turcotte recently finished a 12-year sentence. Turcotte said he was given six years for killing a man and another six years for selling drugs to an undercover police officer.

"The first time I killed a child molester. I got six years for that. And I sold a kilo of coke to an undercover. Then i got six years and one month for that."

Turcotte said he used to play poker daily with Raymond Cormier during the three years the men spent together at Stony Mountain Institution.

"[He was] a normal guy. It's weird," Turcotte said. "It was almost like he didn't belong in jail; he was always smiling, always joking around — I would have never have guessed."

Cormier, 53, was arrested last week. He has been charged with second-degree murder in Fontaine's death.

Court documents in Cormier's case indicate that although the teen's body was recovered from the river Aug. 17, 2014, she was likely killed almost a week earlier "on or about the 10th day of August" that year.

• Raymond Cormier, 53, charged with murder in Tina Fontaine death

• 'Prison is what caused all the problems,' says Raymond Cormier, accused in Tina Fontaine homicide

Turcotte said he respected Cormier in prison and gave him the nickname "Frenchie," because he apparently had "a very French accent." He added that he is having a hard time coming to grips with the crimes his former friend has been charged with.

"[He] got along with everybody, really funny, really wiry.... That's why I was so surprised," Turcotte said. 

Cormier has at least 92 prior convictions across Canada. Cormier never spoke much about his personal life or past convictions, except that he had been charged for some violent offences, Turcotte said.

Tina Fontaine's great-aunt relieved arrest made in slain teen's case

9 years ago

Duration 2:14

Thelma Favel, Tina Fontaine's great-aunt, said she had mixed emotions upon learning that someone has been arrested in the teen's death.

Influence of drugs

According to court parole documents, Cormier has a history of committing crimes while under the influence of drugs.

"Most of your past offences and … assaults were most often during your attempt to steal money from your victims for drugs," a report from June 2012 states.

The report was filed ahead of Cormier's release from prison after he served a 3½-year sentence for robbery and driving under the influence, among other offences. It goes on to note that Cormier has a history of violent behaviour "that began at a young age" and doesn't appear to have improved with treatment.

Cormier has used his fists and various knives to commit crimes, the report says.

"The [parole] board finds you have a serious violent criminal history where you utilized weapons and threats to achieve your criminal means," the report states. "Although you have completed programming, it is determined you have made minimal gains. You remain assessed as a high risk for future violent offending."

The report adds Cormier had shown remorse for his actions and there was no information in either the June report, or a similar pre-release parole report filed in December that same year, to suggest Cormier had been diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder.

Cormier struggled during his time in prison, Turcotte said.

"He was always depressed, he didn't think things were worth it," Turcotte said. "But you never know what's inside someone's [head], what demons are lurking or what they are holding back."

Turcotte said he was appalled to hear about what happened to Fontaine.

"She was a 15-year-old who had a whole life ahead of her and a chance to fix herself. Seeing that and how she was found, I can't imagine being her family," he said.

"I saw her auntie on television and no matter who you are, what you've been through, to see that story and her auntie reacting crushes you, no matter what you've done. Look at me: no matter my record, I was sitting there like, 'Wow.'"

Cormier is scheduled to appear in a Winnipeg court Tuesday.