Derek Saretzky charged with Hanne Meketech's death has longtime friend shocked

A longtime friend of Hanne Meketech was stunnedto hear that Derek Saretzkyalready charged in the slayings of a toddler and her father in Crowsnest Passhas now beencharged with the death of the 69-year-old woman she'd known for three decades.

Saretzky, 23, was charged with first-degree murder last fall in the deaths of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and her father, Terry Blanchette.

There is an additional charge of committing an indignity to a body in the girl's case.

• MORE CRIME NEWS |Meningitis-death jury asked to decide if Stephens strayed from being 'reasonable and prudent' parents
• MORE CRIME NEWS |Ryan Lane's family speak to his murderers at sentencing hearing

Meketech was found dead in her home in Coleman on Sept. 9, 2015, less than a week before the father and daughter were found dead in Blairmore, but no charges had been laid.RCMPon Wednesday announced Saretzky was chargedwith killing Meketech.

Terri Putnam knew Meketech for 30 years, first as a colleague, babysitter to her children and later as her caregiver and friend, she told the Calgary Eyeopener on Thursday.

"When I first found out this morning, I was confused, I was shocked I didn't know whether to cry I did cry," Putnam said.

She's trying to understand the latest turn of events.

"I basically just started calling family members I wanted to know why ... that's my main concern right now so Hannecan rest in peace."

RCMP would only say at a news conference that Saretzky had become a suspect while in custody for the other two murders. But there were no details on how he became a suspect.

Saretzky and Meketech knew each other through his grandmother, who lived just a few houses away, Putnam said.

They would have gone to the same family functions, she added.

"There are a million things going through my head, but I don't want to speculate.I'm really mystified by it."

• Derek Saretzky, accused of killing Alberta toddler and father, charged in senior's slaying
• Derek Saretzky's preliminary inquiry set for June