A 51-year-old woman appeared in Bonnyville provincial court for the first time on June 3, facing charges of first degree murder, after firefighters found the body of a man inside a home, while responding to a fire in Glendon.
Deborah Doonanco, a retired school teacher formerly with Northern Lights School Division, has been charged with the murder of 44-year-old Kevin Feland, following the incident in Glendon on May 25.
According to an RCMP press release, Feland was discovered by members of the Glendon Fire Department after the local authority responded to a residential fire in the village. As a result of the death, RCMP Major Crimes Unit and Provincial Fire Investigator took charge of the investigation and subsequently arrested Doonanco, Feland's common-law wife, after gathering evidence at the scene.
Doonanco once taught at Duclos School in Bonnyville before retiring, according to the NLSD. She is also the daughter of Johnnie Doonanco, who served Glendon as the mayor for 39 years, and his wife Mary.
Appearing in Bonnyville provincial court via CCTV from the Edmonton Remand Centre last Tuesday, Doonanco said she understood the charges laid before her. Her lawyer requested the court reserve the suspect's plea and election for five weeks.
Doonanco is scheduled to appear in court July 15.
