SPOKANE VALLEY -- A friend and a neighbor of murder victim Rebecca Schiering say they believe she had cut off all ties with suspect Jan Demeerleer days before she was murdered.
Two of Rebecca's friends told KREM 2 News Monday that she was engaged to Demeerleer, 39, but that she became afraid of him and no longer wanted any contact.
"The relationship was troubled but rebecca was looking for bright happier future without this individual," says Lisa Muncey, a friend and employee at Rebecca's consignment store, The Reclothery.
A neighbor said Rebecca moved out of Demeerleer's home six months ago because he hit her son, Jack, 9.
"He had pushed Jack and caused him bodily harm that caused Rebecca to move out on her own, and the engagement broke of then," says neighbor Charles Shearer.
Friends say Rebecca spoke to Demeerleer ocassionally on the phone, and that he recently started coming over to her house on North Ella Road to do yard work.
But last Thursday, Muncey says Rebecca decided to break all ties with him.
"I think Jan flipped out and couldn't take it any longer," says Muncey.
