Ottawa , Canada ( CNN ) -- A Canadian air force colonel and pilot who was entrusted with flying Queen Elizabeth across Canada has pleaded guilty to charges of murder , rape and dozens of sexually motivated break-ins . Police say Col. Russell Williams confessed that he murdered two women , sexually assaulted two others , and broke into dozens of homes in search of women 's lingerie . He was arrested in February after being pulled over at a police roadblock near the home of Jessica Lloyd , one of his murder victims . He pleaded guilty in an Ontario courtroom on Monday , sparing victims and their families weeks of gruesome testimony . The country is now bracing for victims ' impact statements during the sentencing phase . Lurid details of how the colonel video-recorded and photographed his victims and saved this evidence as `` trophies '' are expected to be aired . A portrait of Williams as a merciless sexual predator is beginning to emerge . Many are wondering how a man trusted with the country 's most sensitive military secrets could have , for so long , kept so many secrets of his own . `` Down deep it 's still hard to believe it , that it 's the same guy . But we 've accepted it . It does n't make any sense at all for those that knew him , '' said George White , a neighbor and friend of Williams for 14 years . `` I think there 's two personalities there , '' added White , who said that the colonel kept many details of his life to himself but was always very friendly and a good companion . He described a man who was an avid fisherman and jogger , and someone who was the consummate professional at work . But White said that in hindsight it was strange that Williams never spoke of his family or his past . `` He was extremely secretive . We never knew anything about his family till after the fact . He never divulged anything . But that 's all in hindsight , of course , '' he said in an interview with CNN . Williams divided his time between his home in Ottawa and a country cottage in southern Ontario , both of which he shared with his wife , Mary-Elizabeth Harriman . In legal evidence filed as part of a civil suit , Mary-Elizabeth Harriman said she had no idea of the crimes her husband had committed and described herself as being devastated by what she had learned . White said he took the time to write her on behalf of their mutual friends . `` I sent Mary-Elizabeth a letter , a letter on behalf of our small group that sat together every evening for coffee and that . I sent her a letter , explained that we were her friends , we were there to stand by her , '' he said . `` Never heard back from her . '' No one seems to have had any idea that the colonel was leading a double life . For many , to try to figure out what could have triggered such a deadly spree of sexual attacks has been a nagging mystery . Most troubling for victims and their families is the great lengths police say Williams went to to preserve the video , pictures and mementos from his crimes . It seems to have been a consuming obsession for the highly decorated military commander . Police say dozens of these `` trophies , '' along with other souvenirs of his crimes , were hidden and even catalogued in his upscale Ottawa home . Despite his confession , Williams has so far given no indication as to what could have driven him to such bizarre and cruel behavior . Victims were subjected to hours of sexual torture and made to pose for video and photographs , usually while blindfolded and bound . `` Unanswered questions : How , why , when , where , everything , '' said White , who added that despite Williams ' guilty plea , `` I 'm sure we 'll never know . ''
Former Canadian air force colonel pleads guilty to murders and sexual assaults . Police say he kept videos and photos of his victims . A friend says `` it 's still hard to believe it ... but we 've accepted it ''