Episode 374: On a frigid February night in 2020, the quiet streets of Calgary’s Bowness neighbourhood became the scene of a tragedy that would send shockwaves through the city and beyond. Melissa Rae Blommaert, a loving mother and devoted friend, was found fatally injured—her life stolen in a brutal act of violence. The investigation quickly turned toward someone heartbreakingly close to her: her husband, Ronald John Candaele. As the harrowing details of Melissa’s final hours came to light, so too did the story of a woman who had fought for hope and safety amid years of hardship. In this episode, we explore Melissa’s life, her struggles, and the devastating betrayal that led to her death.

Sources:

The History of Bowness
Melissa Rae Blommaert Obituary 2020 - Pierson's Funeral Service, LTD
2021 ABQB 332 (CanLII) | R v Candaele | CanLII
2024 ABCA 117 (CanLII) | R v Candaele | CanLII
2024 ABKB 521 (CanLII) | R v Candaele | CanLII
callitfemicide2020
Melissa Rae Blommaert - Search - Newspapers.com™
Ronald John Candaele - Search - Newspapers.com™
Melissa Rae Blommaert homicide | News, Videos & Articles | GlobalNews
Family remembers victim of Bowness domestic homicide as loving mother of 2 who enjoyed the outdoors - Calgary
Calgary man who drove over wife with U-Haul guilty of manslaughter, not murder: court of appeal | CBC News
Calgary husband who drove over wife with U-Haul should spend 15-18 years in prison for manslaughter: Crown | CBC News
‘Benefit of the doubt’: Appeal Court downgrades conviction in moving van death

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