PONTIAC, Mich. – A GoFundMe has been created to support the surviving members of a Pontiac family attacked by their neighbor.
According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Timothy Legard, 50, fatally stabbed his neighbor Wednesday morning and sexually assaulted the man’s wife and young daughter.
Rebecca Pearl, a close friend of the family, started a GoFundMe to support the family.
“This was such a senseless loss,” Pearl said. “I can’t wrap my head around it. I can’t understand what would possess someone to do this, honestly.”
The incident occurred on Wednesday (Sept. 18) morning on Ypsilanti Avenue.
Bill was loading up the car while his wife and daughter were inside, getting ready for work and school.
Police say Legard stabbed Bill. His body was found in the driveway.
“(My best friend) and my niece rushed to the door to see what’s going on, and the next thing you know, they’re met with the neighbor (Legard) coming in with a knife, and a big struggle happened,” Pearl said. “And they were trapped in the house with him for at least 10 to 20 minutes. I’m not going to go into detail because it would keep you up at night.”
According to the prosecutor, Legard sexually assaulted the mother and her 8-year-old daughter.
“It’s like he decided it was no longer a good idea and let them go, and they had no idea that her husband was passed away in the driveway,” Pearl said. “So they were met with his body as they were running out of the driveway. And, of course, they’re like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe he’s gone.’ Because they were wondering why isn’t he coming? Why isn’t he coming to save us? Where is he?”
The wife and daughter ran to a neighbor’s house and called 911. Police found Legard walking nearby and arrested him.
He’s facing multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, and criminal sexual assault.
“Now my best friend and my niece are without their main provider, without their security, they can’t even go back to their house because of everything that’s transpired inside of it,” Pearl said.