Former Neighbors Remember Court House Shooting Victim - Fox 2 News Headlines

"So tragic. I'm sure she's been living a nightmare.'

Tracy Campbell will never forget the Matusiewicz family who lived across the street from her Norva Drive home in Middletown, Delaware for years. News that Christine Belford, the mother of three young girls, had been killed at the New Castle County Court House Monday stunned her.

"She was trying to get her life back on track, and I'm sure she was fighting for her kids because even in jail he tried to get custody of those kids," Campbell told FOX 29.

Campbell and other neighbors say the situation at the Matusiewicz home was always volatile. Especially in the days before  David Matusiewicz kidnapped his three daughters and escaped to Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica for 19 months.

But the news that the girls' mother had been murdered had Campbell worried about the children.  

"I feel so bad for them," she said. "The children ... it's really gonna' be difficult for them."

Harry Davis lives just up the block from the Matusiewicz family's former home, even though they've been gone several years and the house has been sold, he remembers the three children who used to play with his grandchildren.

"It's a shame. I mean it's too bad, but what are you going to do. It's a pity," he said.

Bruce Guitard bought the Matusiewicz's former home 18 months ago. He met Christine,who now goes by the last name of Belford, once. He's read and heard plenty from neighbors about the family's past problems.

"It's devastating, I mean, she seemed like a very nice person, thoughtful about the kids," he said "They've been through more than they should have...but this is the ultimate tragedy."

"For this to happen in the court house," Campbell said. "It's such a shame. I feel so bad for the family."