Tina Fontaine’s family is greeting news of Raymond Joseph Cormier’s arrest in connected to the 15-year-old’s killing with an overwhelming mix of emotions.
Thelma and Joseph Favel said the arrest brings much happiness, but also new challenges in the months ahead.
"I cried so hard, and laughing at the same time," said Thelma of the moment Winnipeg Police told her they made an arrest in the killing of her great-nice.
The call came from Sgt. John O’Donovan at 11:30 a.m. Friday morning.
“I said, 'God bless you. You are nothing but angels.'"
“I was the same way as her," said Joseph. "I'm a big guy, but I was crying happy tears."
The Favels raised Fontaine and have been heartbroken since she was killed in August 2014, when she was discovered, wrapped in plastic in the Red River.
Thelma said she never heard of Cormier, the 53-year-old man accused of second-degree murder.
She said while she's extremely thankful to all the officers involved, she's still upset with the two police officers who let Tina go when she was in the care of Child and Family Service days before her death.
“I don't know the Tina that was in the city,” she said. “She was a happy girl, always full of life, full of laughs. Awesome with kids. "
It's the joyful Tina the Favels still hold on to. They now hope to start putting the pain behind them.
“It’s not over, but it's coming to an end, to get some closure," said Joseph.
“I know we will never get her back, but as long as someone pays for what they did to her,” said Thelma.
Thelma Favel is dealing with another battle. She lives with leukemia, but said she will be following the court proceedings closely.
"I have to be there to be a voice for Tina," she said.
