Categories: Need to know

Col. Russell Williams’ wife calls charges ‘devastating’

Mary Elizabeth Harriman speaks out for the first time—in court documents

by macleans.ca on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 12:47pm - 178 Comments

Four months after her husband was charged with two murders and two sexual assaults—crimes that rocked not only the military, but the entire country—Col. Russell Williams’ wife has broken her silence. In a sworn affidavit filed in a Belleville, Ont., court, Mary Elizabeth Harriman says “the revelation of these charges has been devastating to me.” Williams, the former commander of CFB Trenton, was arrested in February and accused of killing two women and sexually assaulting two others, and in April, he was slapped with 82 more charges, most of them home invasions involving the theft of women’s underwear. Apart from the criminal charges, Williams is also facing a $2.45-million civil lawsuit filed by one of his alleged assault victims, who claims that he “fraudulently” transferred ownership of his Ottawa condo to his wife to avoid paying damages. In her affidavit, Harriman, an associate executive director at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, insists there was “nothing untoward or suspicious about the transfer.” She continues: “As a result of the charges, my previously anticipated future and financial security had become jeopardized.”

CBC News

Tags: Col. Russell Williams, Russell Williams

Cassandra

Nope I just dont ever believe a wife wouldnt know or suspect
what a deviant mental husband was up to. NO WAY NO HOW.
She cant be that innocent. No No and No.
Auke

Mary Elizabeth Harriman continues: “As a result of the charges, my previously anticipated future and financial security had become jeopardized.” Her husband had nothing to do with it? In sixteen years they will have $ 1 Million from his undeserved army pension. She could offer to use any money that her husband contributed to their homes and her security put to the victims of these crimes.
ljckit

Wow. What a witch-hunt !!! First this woman suffers an agonizing trauma that will change her life forever, and then she finds herself demonized for not behaving like the perfect human being. Frankly, I find a lot of the moralizing venom being spewed in some of these posts way, way, way, more odious and unsettling than anything that's being attributed to Elizabeth Harriman, and without any understanding of the contexts of her remarks or actions. Could it be that ye who are casting stones are without any human imperfections yourselves???? Sadly, I think it more likely that you are the same crew that turned up to relish the witch burnings in Salem, before (I thought) we became a more enlightened and compassionate society.

Just Me

How can people understand someone who has said nothing other than SHE is devastated. Nothing to the victims, nothing to the military family -that was devastated as well, nothing to the public that was in shock! All she has done is make sure she is financially protected.
Really, what does that say to you?
Kelly

ljckit, What a breath of fresh air, well said. I sadly read the post a few before yours where "Bellville" posted a long winded commentary about the amount of visits at the jail, the nature of the visits pressing up against the glass windows, the details of RW having oral sex with the victims and instead of finding the post leaving me in thought I feel like I am read something trashy from the Enquirer. Shame on you Belleville! for spewing speculation. Why not have some respect for the victims familys who also may read this. This kind of trash will not help them grieve their losses.

mlh

Williams went to the Ottawa police station at 3 pm on the Sunday. He was spending the weekend with his spouse but, according to media reports, had spent Sunday morning disposing of some of his trophies that he had stashed in his Ottawa house. As a wife who only saw my husband occasionally, I would have been wondering what he was doing that morning in favour of spending quality time with me.
jav71trenton

too bad for her and she was making 6 figure salary??? last time i support that charity…she sounds like another Karla…..she knew what was going on ……..selfish women and then worried about her hardwood floors being scratched and a lamp broken???

Guest

"IF" she knew what was going on then she would have been arrested as an accomplice idiot. Jump off the bandwagon of the dummies that post here about the scratched floors and think what you are saying! To compare her to Karla how pathetic of you, obvious a screw loose you have.

Just Me

I agree with you completely!

I also found very strange that he confessed when the brilliant interrogator pushed his buttons… which were: concern for his wife and HER dream home! It was almost like he was afraid of her. That's when he started to talk.
Just Me

WOW! Well explained!
Otis Campbell

I think it's pretty easy that she didn't know what her husband was doing considering he lived in Tweed area and she lived in Ottawa. She shouldn't lose a thing due to what her husband did she is just as much a victim as everyone else is. I don't think she should lose anything that is her's, yes I think he should pay but why should she? If you also ask me I don't think he should of lost either of his medal's as he earned those before he committed these horrible crimes. Im pretty sure other ex military that have had medals and committed murder haven't had them taken away but to me it really doesnt matter he wont be needing them in jail its just the point that he earned them before he did this horrible stuff. As for his wife she is an innocent victim and shouldn't have to pay anyone cause she is a victim…
Kelly

Rae, We all would like to know since we are creatures of habits. However the reality is it is none of our business so my suggestion to you is to get over it, move on with your life and try not to obsess about these types of questions. Her husbands trial was for all Canadians to know and come to terms with but her private life, her work life is none of anyones business. She was not on trial and whatever she does in the future is not our concern either. Let it be and if you live in the area of the victims maybe you could do something positive for them to make a difference. Get out of the box you are thinking in! The trial is over now right? Try to heal Rae.

Frank

The trial is over but the trail of victims goes on and on, should they try to heal? Maybe her work life is all of our business, if she wishes we donate to her salary (I mean cause). The sudden sale of house in Orleans where said husband masterbated in little I quote "Little" girls underwear, perhaps he was "Found OUT". Obsess with these kinds of questions???? Try obsessing with knowing that lives could have been saved and rapes not occured or little girls lives be forever changed. Turn a blind eye "Kelly" once again. You sound like a narcassistic uncaring pshyco. We as Canadian citizens have every right to know about personal life of an enabler. I will never donate to H&S again, but I will donate to victims rights groups. You are dispicable "Kelly"

Kelly

Oh Frank it seems I have touched a sensitive spot in you and now I am a psychopath too. around so easily and You say I am uncaring, then read my above post again as I suggested Rae do what she could to reach out to the victims meaning the familys of the murdered woman or the rape victims and do something positive to help them in some way. Is this any different than you reaching out to victims rights groups. I have not forgotten but choose to think in the future and not reflect about things of the past that I cannot control. After reading threads here it seems so many comments are made from assumptions and not solid facts. Getting beyond anger and blaming is a good way to start to heal is it not? and that was my point to Rae to not dwell on things that are not our business. I feel insulted that you jump to conclusion that I an an uncaring person.
Kelly

Frank
This is off topic but did you follow the 103 million dollar trial of Robert Picton? 49 women murdered, slashed and hung on meat hooks, carved up and made into ground beef (packaged yes and flash frozen), bodies cut up and fed to pigs? Woemen shot up with I believe ammonia and strangled with piano wire. No one ever blamed his family for any involvement yet the indignities were far worse than what happened to Williams victims. Still the familys share the same pain and grief. Be thankful Williams pled guilty and spared Ontario taxpayers millions of dollars in court costs unlike Robert Picton who confessed to an undercover cop yet plead NOT GUILTY. Be positive and believe that the OPP will be the first to let you know if they find some connection to Mary Elizabeth to RW crimes. I think you misconstrued my comment Frank as my heart is with the victims, all the victims including the ex Col's wife.

Frank

Is that you Mary Elizabeth???

Kelly

Ah your sense of humor or sarcasm is making you look foolish Frank. Of course this is not MJ but I have the right to post without being called names and being debased. All across the country the Police have volunteer groups that assist with victims to improve their quality of life and if my suggesting that to Rae make me "dispicable" as you say in your previous post then I think something is very wrong with you.

I'm just saying

@Faith and Just Me
I think we also need to question his mother's role in this. Comments on other articles here link to stats re: male rapists: they are often survivors of female-perpetrated sexual &/or psychological abuse in their childhood. I've done some digging, and it's usually by their mothers or female caregivers.

I note, amongst other things, that he seemed to start offending (lingerie break-ins) somewhere around the time that a G&M article (it may have been NP) states that his mother and brother "attempted a reconciliation" with him. The article isn't specific about dates, so it's hard to know for certain. I read that his mother was actually at the ceremony where he became the commander of Trenton (she had described what a "lovely ceremony" it was to her 2nd husband's relatives). This was approx. the time where he escalated to sexual assault. After that he broke off contact. During his 2nd SA he told Laurie "it has to be done so I can move on with my life".
George

annie you are comparing apples to oranges. Yes Karla divorced but Carla clearly took part in the torture and killing of others including her sister. Mary Liz did not partake in ANYTHING that we know of especially the torture and murder so get your knowledge together dude. She did not Harass the OPP, she was entitled to compensation just as you would be or anyone else whose home was damaged by an investigation. Learn your facts before you spout off. How dare you call her a psychopath you woman hater.
hopealison14

Please stop beating up on Mary Elizabeth Harriman. She IS a victim too, and she should not lose everything that she's worked for. She did give her husband $62,000 for his share of their $700,000 house in Ottawa, which is the amount he may have put in as down payment before paying the mortgage. So he has his share given back to him and Ms Harriman is assuming the mortgage by herself. That young woman who is suing her may be unaware of how to purchase and pay for a house over a number of years. Perhaps she thinks the only way to purchase a house is to pay for it all at once? The rest of you, if you are older and wiser, should know better, or perhaps you should consult a mortgage broker or real estate agent and ask them how most people buy a house. Ms Harriman SHOULD be concerned for her financial future: what if she loses her job in the next few months because the charity she works for is worried about their image and decides to let her go? What if her husband loses his pension and she will not receive any of it at all? Have any of you thought about that? I have not forgotten about the victims. I'm sorry they were terrorized and I hope they get counselling. They should sue her husband instead and leave the poor innocent woman alone. She is going through a lot as it is and I hope and pray that she will be able to rebuild her life, psychologically, of course. Don't forget she was married to him for almost twenty years.
Kelly

My God Main Point are you a Profiler on Criminal Minds? When you have time please give me the rundown on Karla Holmolka situation as she was an active part in a horrific crime. Her love and devotion to Paul was so deep that she lost her mind and participated! even killing her own sister after having oral sex with her. I still can't believe she got a deal and was out in 12 years. That is about as bad as Clifford Olson deal. These murders should not be spared life in jail and yet isolation must make one go crazy. The victims familys do they ever really heal, perhaps not in this life eh?
Natalie

Many comments have been made about William's wife, her role as a victim, her tattered feelings. But where and how have any of these emotions been shown. Nowhere, in no way, at any time has there been any empathy shown for the REAL victims.
The only concern she has shown is for herself and her financial security, but as many conscious individuals have surmised, with the salary she makes she has nothing to worry about. She has a 6 figure salary and no dependants, sadly I am away of many many families of 2 adults and 2 or more children that do no even make $30,000. per year and they ARE SHOWING EMPATHY for the victims. My take is that they were, are, two very dysfunctional, egotistical, self absorbed, sociopathic personalities. Neither of them elicits empathy from me and I have to say that is extremely rare in my case, I feel bad for everything and everyone. My heart brakes for each true victim of circumstances in this world but in this case my feelings are as cold towards this individual as they hers appear to be towards the victims. No sympathy here.
Guest

Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo are worse monsters than Williams, They too photo'd things but they chopped up bodies, put them in cement. How many woman have oral sex with their sisters because their man wants them to? Harriman was NOT involved in any of this stuff that we know of. Annie I don't know where you get your stories from. None of us know very little about Harriman other than what is printed in the news and TV. You sound scary when you compare her to Karla the killer. I think you are obsessed with a lousy 3000.00 dollar reimbursement. I don't hear you dissing Karla for her terrible acts. Give you head a shake!
Ruth

OMG Everyone here is an expert ! Where is the compassion, empathy or understanding that we should have? And where is the honesty to say " I DON'T know what Ms. Harriman knew or didn't know" and "I DON'T know why Russell Williams' life changed so badly " ?
Let's not judge too harshly lest we be judged as well !
Ruth

OMG Everyone here is an expert ! Where is the compassion, empathy or understanding that we should have? And where is the honesty to say " I DON'T know what Ms. Harriman knew or didn't know" and "I DON'T know why Russell Williams' life changed so badly " ?

Kelly

I agree with you Ruth, well said.

Ruth

Thank you Kelly. I have such a conflict of feelings about these sad, sad events.

angie

these two don.t deserve any more attention .let them be forgotten and rot in hell.
Common sense

The Heart and Stroke Foundation has been removed from my list of charities I will contribute to. The thought of one penny of my donation going into this woman's purse is enough to turn me off.
Amanda

I feel sorry for the wife. As you may have read, the husband and her lived separate lives. Why blame her? She has also worked her whole life. Why should she be penniless because of her husband?
karen keddy

The wife is entitled to her half of everything, his half should go to the victims and their families. She is no more responsible for any of this than you or I are (of course I can really only speak for myself).

His wife is hardly the only one who didn’t suspect him of being something other than what he presented himself to be. He seems to have fooled everyone. There doesn’t seem to be any indication that he was anything other than a “upstanding”, successful member of society. If there was some evidence to the contrary, I’m sure she would have been (or will be) charged. I haven’t seen any indication that she was in any way involved in or aware of any of this. Her whole life has been torn apart and then on top of this, there are people who are willing to carelessly taint her character with the crimes of a man who victimized her as surely as he victimized others.
Liz

You know what to bad. You are an excecutive with the heart and stroke. I am sure you are not making minimun wage. The two woman that Russell Williams is accused of murdering. Apparently have lost all of their future let alone therre financial
security. Sell your big house and I am sure you will be fine.
Heliox

"Nothing suspicious about the transfer…" it just happens to coincide with him getting caught and charged for serial rape and murder? I am appalled that this woman only seems capable of being concerned that her future financial security ahs been "jeopardized", and not concerned about the victims of her husbands heinous crimes. Any sympathy I had for this woman is gone.
Franco

If your partner put you into this mess you would be affraid of your future.
The cops will find out what she new about all of this and then let the chips fall into place
May they RIP
Julie

It's all very sad and no one will win in this situation. Everyone has lost so much, lives cannot be replaced. The shock and horror of this will affect many people for the rest of their lives and generations to follow. I hope we learn something from this and those close to all grieving parties involved, please show unconditional and supportive love. God bless you all and you are in my prayers. Love covers a multitude of sins.
penny

Please some one tell me how she had NO idea that her hubby of many years, was this monster. Boxes of panties removed from the home SHE lived in aswell?
Dee dee

This Isn't about Mary…
This Is About Col Russell William's His Wife Is Inocent!!!
Williams Is the 1 That Did The Crime …Not Her She Is As Inocent …
As The Families And All The Woman That Have Died Because of this Monster…. Leave Her Out Of It,, If Anything You Should Be Writting A Letter To Our Government The Canadian Government To Stop This Monster From Getting His Pay He Get's 12,000.00 Dollars a Month ,,Thats The Part that makes me sick .. William's Should be shot For What He has Done. Not Only To The Victim's But Everyone He Has Hurt ,,, Why Should us as Tax Payer's Pay For Him In Jail .. And to Think He Gets A Glass Cell No Bars All Glass & In P.C. Protective Custody,,, He Should Be Where Everyone Else Is He Did The Crime He,,Does The Time since we don't have the Electric Chair !
But Think Before you speak About His Wife Think How Hurt She Is,And Everyone Bashing here.. I live 10 mins Away From The Trenton Air Base & It Sure Hit Home!!
evie

The woman makes a "six figure income" for her work. It is the last time I give any of my retirement pension money to heart and stroke. It is another case of charities using telemarketers to suck down money in order pay big salaries to in this case heart and stroke "executives.' What kind of 'work' deserves over $100,000 to get money from donations! . She should not be able to profit from her husband's salary. I suspect that there was something very "iffy" about the sexual relationship of Harriman and Russell which should have given her a clue about his perverted potential for putting on women's panties. Creepy!
RMM

For the people that are judging his wife, I pray that you never find yourself in this type of situation…wow, Unbelievable. Talk when you have been in her shoes…and stop being so IGNORANT!!!!! Wow, unbelievable.
Jill

She may be inocent, but any inocent person would not have wanted anything from this monster.
annie

Typically the profil of a psychopathe ……but lesser degree then Russ….
Guest

You obviously are a spinster. Any sound minded person wants what they are legally intitled to and if dividing property assets is what they want then they are entitled as they were both on the mortgage document. Learn about the law before you make dumb comments Jill. He did not give it all to her, she still carrys a hefty mortage on her new property and by law she will be entitled to half his pension if she divorces him. If she does not divorse him and she survives him she will still get it.
Guest

Evie what a dumb twit you are! You believe the heart and stroke foundation is strickly about donations??? LOL Time you start to read up what it is all about and quit making a fool of yourself.
Fair

Do you bully your spouse and or children like that “Guest”? I think the people here are speaking from emotion and how they FEEL the law should be applied, so maybe open that small mind of yours. And honestly, his wife had no idea? It wasn’t like he hid the evidence of his crimes, she could have opened a box or his rape kit at any time. And late night walks?? I know I wouldn’t take a 5 hour plus night walk unless I was up to something, so unless she had her head in the sand, she knew something wasn’t “right”. Maybe she didn’t think he was out murdering, but come on, unless you are a complete idiot. I think somebody like being a wife of a Colonel that was being streamlined in the military…

And for the record, if I was his wife, I wouldn’t want a cottage that some poor innocent girl was murdered in. His wife is a big girl and I think financially she will be just fine, who would honestly want to live in that overpriced condo after all of this anyway? Somebody that cares about their own needs!
Fair

Maybe you should think about the fact that the OPP probably can’t charge her for looking the other way for over 20 years. No, she didn’t put duct tape over the girls face, or suffocate anybody, but she made a decision to “not notice”. How could you be so successful in your work and such a failure at knowing your husband?