Adrienne McColl, 21, lit up every room she stepped in. Only, she never expected to fall in love with a violent monster…
Glammed up to the nines in a satin black gown with long gloves to match, Adrienne McColl, then 21, wowed everyone in the room.
Posing for pictures with her former classmates as they waved goodbye to their high school years, she was a natural in front of the camera.
Only, Adrienne McColl hated her graduation dress and the way her blonde hair was styled, too.
But no one would have ever known – apart from her best friend Shandi Bard.
‘Somebody referred to us as Timon and Pumbaa,’
Shandi joked, laughing. ‘She was a tall, slender, beautiful person, and I was a little, short, stocky thing.’
Adrienne and Shandi were inseparable, making plans for their futures after graduation – they had their whole lives ahead of them.
Only, Adrienne’s future wasn’t looking as bright as her classmates’ – there was one thing holding her back.
He never approved of him
Her troublesome boyfriend.
Having worked at Studio 82, a bar owned by her stepfather John McGee in Calgary, Canada, it wasn’t long before Adrienne’s beauty attracted the attention of her manager.
Stephane Parent, who was 12 years older than Adrienne, instantly pursued her and the two quickly became a couple.
However, their relationship was soon on the rocks.
Stephane, who was known by his staff for his angry outbursts at the bar, soon began unleashing his temper on Adrienne.
He physically attacked her and was even seen throwing her across a desk and choking her while at work.
Jealous of her big circle of friends, too, he controlled when Adrienne saw them until there was no one left for her to turn to.
But no matter how bad things got, Adrienne couldn’t turn her back on him – she still loved him.
Despite John not approving of his doting stepdaughter’s troubling relationship, the two tried to salvage their bond.
They bought their first home together – a condo – in 2001, and even wanted to start a family.
Unfortunately, Adrienne suffered two miscarriages – her first baby, who the pair had named Christopher, was stillborn.
Adrienne always saw the best in those around her
And matters only seemed to get worse for the heartbroken couple when they found themselves financially struggling in February 2002, too.
Adrienne moved back in with John, while Stephane found himself living in his car – meanwhile, John banned Stephane from visiting Adrienne at his house.
But despite all their problems, the pair were still inseparable.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, John headed out on a golfing trip to Phoenix with a friend on 12 February, leaving Adrienne safely at home.
And to k
