The sound of silence: Woman fears friend murdered, wants update from RCMP

It's been more than a month since RegulaSchuledied in a suspicious house fire, and her friend LindaSaunders-McLeancan't bear the silence from police.

Schuledied July 24 in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, in a fire police suspect was deliberately set. But in their most recent comments to CBC, police have said they're not investigating her death as a homicide.

Saunders-McLeanhas no qualms using much stronger language.

"I call it a murder," she told CBC.

Daughter sawSchule on bloodyfloor

Saunders-McLean said she is most concerned about what Schule's daughter, Susie, told her she saw the night of the fire.

"Susiewoke up to the smell of smoke and the alarm going off," she said."She got up and she went into her mom's room. She said half of the bed was on fire, and she turned around to leave the room because she didn't see her mom, and her mom was lying on the floor, and she said there was blood all around her and she said there was plasticover her."

She said half of the bed was on fire ... and her mom was lying on the floor, and she said there was blood all around her.- Linda Saunders-McLean

Saunders-McLean said Susie tried to call her, but there was a problem with the phone, and she went outside to scream for help.

"To me, it's not just simple, this older woman, 88 years old, fell down and died," she said. "To me, everything points to somebody getting into her home and murdering her. It's very concerning."

Generous spirit, but target too

Schulecame to Labrador from Switzerland as a missionary for the Moravian Church in the '60s, and never left, adopting Susie,one of her students, from the mission.

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She provided outreach work and crisiscounsellingfor Inuit coastal communities, visited inmates in prison including theinmates who spent about 40hours building the casket shewas buried in at her funeral Aug. 2.

Friends and acquaintances mournedSchuleas a generous spirit, butSaunders-McLean, who, ashead chapel servant at the Happy Valley Moravian Church worked closely with her,said she still had problems with some people in the community.

"I knewRegulafor many years, and I know that she often had people come to her home looking for help from her, and I know she ran into problems with people that stole from her ... and she's always contacted theRCMP."

• Inmates fulfil Regula Schule's final wish: That they build her casket

Schule'sdoor was smashed in as recently as April, she said. She believes the elderly womanand her daughter were very vulnerable.

"A mentally, physically handicapped woman, and her mother, 88 years old perfect targetsfor somebody that wants to do something as bad as this."

Also concerning, she said, is whoever started the fire is still out there.

"Who's to say there's not going to be somebody else? I have an 83-year-old mother that lives by herself, and I know a lot of people, seniors, that live by themselves, and they're afraid," she said.

"And it's not only the older people, it's the community itself. People that I've talked to, they are afraid that there is somebody still out there, or people still out there, that arefree to do what they want to do."

That's why the RCMP need to do a better job keeping the public updated, she said, and if the police don't believe it's a homicide, outlining theevidence andreasons why could help reassure people.

'Not acceptable'

"I really hope they have some good, strong evidence, and they're just waiting for the right time," she said. "I've made phone calls and left my name and phone number and told them of my position here, and how I knew Regula, and a phone call was never returned. Nobody said, 'We can't tell you anything. We're still working on the case.' Nothing's ever come back."

It's been more than a month, she said, with no word on how the investigation is proceeding.

To me, everything points to somebody getting into her home and murdering her. It's very concerning.- Linda Saunders-McLean

"What about a month from today? Is it going to continue?" she said. "The silence is going to continue, and then eventually people will just give up? Is that what they're hoping for, that people will just give up and forget about it and move on? Right now, to me, it's not acceptable. They need to give us something."

"We need to hear from the RCMP," she said. "We need to know that they're doing what they need to do to make this community safe."

CBC News asked the police to comment on Saunders-McLean's concerns, but a spokesperson said Wednesday they they could not elaborate on previous statements which said that the fire was suspicious, and under investigation and that police were working with the chief medical examiner to determine cause of death.