https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/0...ompassion.html
Danielle Boland sent a text to Kathleen McLean within the past week just to check in with her friend.
When McLean didn't text back the same day, Boland found it odd. McLean typically responded much faster.
'That's the first time I never heard back from her,' Boland said. 'I just assumed she was just busy.'
When news broke of a woman found dead in Dover, Massachusetts, Boland's heart sank when she saw the victim's name.
McLean, authorities said, had been found dead near her Dover home. Her husband of less than a year was now accused of killing her.
'We've lost an angel and I think it's important for people to know that,' Boland said.
McLean, 45, was found dead around 11 p.m. Saturday. Her remains were located in an area not far from her 29 Valley Road home in Dover, the Norfolk District Attorney's Office said.
The mother was last seen in her home Thursday evening. Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office, Dover police and Dedham police were investigating the case as a disappearance until her remains were found Saturday.
McLean's husband, Ingolf Tuerk, 58, also of 29 Valley Road, was arrested and charged with killing his wife. He will be arraigned Monday.
According to Boland, McLean's friend for eight years, the couple's marriage began to change after Tuerk found himself in trouble with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.
The couple eloped in November, according to Boland, the same month Tuerk reached a settlement agreement with attorney general's office after he faced accusations of falsely billing MassHealth.
Tuerk, who practices urology, agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve allegations that he caused his employer to inappropriately bill the state's Medicaid Program (MassHealth) for portions of surgical procedures that never took place and office visits that he did not attend or supervise.
'Under the terms of a settlement agreement, Ingolf Tuerk, a medical doctor who practiced urology at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton, will pay $150,000 to resolve allegations that he caused improper billings to MassHealth of over $31,000,' the attorney general's office said in 2019. 'Dr. Tuerk must also implement a multi-year compliance program at his own expense if he continues to practice medicine in Massachusetts after 2019.'
It appeared the couple were on the verge of divorce. McLean even posted a picture of the Dover home on Facebook with a 'For Sale' sign on the front. That same day, April 15, McLean showed a picture of her holding an anchor charm with the word 'Hope' on it.
Absent from recent Facebook photographs were images of Tuerk.
According to the Dover-Sherborn Press, McLean called a reporter there in March and discussed her fear of Tuerk. She believed the system was not protecting her, the newspaper reports.
The Dover-Sherborn Press reported that on Feb. 6 Tuerk was arraigned in Dedham District Court for violating a restraining order. He pleaded not guilty and was supposed to return to court March 4, but the hearing was postponed.
The newspaper reported Tuerk was also charged with assault and battery on a household member, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of strangulation/suffocation.
McLean and Tuerk had been together for a few years before they eloped.
A native of Belmont, McLean worked as a Reiki master and teacher. Reiki is a form of energy healing in which hands are placed just off a person's body or a person is lightly touched.
McLean helped Boland beginning last year as a friend and through Reiki. Boland had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. McLean, she said, was one of her biggest supporters in her recovery. Boland's cancer is now in remission.
'Anyone you can ask; she was one of the most amazing people,' Boland said. 'She spent days of healing and helping people. That was her full-time career.'
Boland was self-employed at the time. McLean never accepted a dime from Boland as she recovered.
'Anyone who knew her thought they were a great friend of hers. She took the time for everyone,' said Boland recalling McLean as a beautiful and spiritual person.
McLean's recent Facebook page posts has photos of her children, discussions about teaching her children at home during the coronavirus and pictures from Easter.
On April 22, McLean wrote:
'I hope we are all having these moments through this pandemic. I have found such a deep gratitude for my children it's amazing. They may or may not remember this time of their lives once it's over but I know I always will - this has been one of the most beautiful cleansing, healing times of my life... seeing my children laugh, dance, learn and play together every day( sometimes argue but rare!) Takes me back to the early days staying at home with them and just enjoying who they are. I have had some of the deepest conversations with my teenagers and laughed until I'm in tears!'
Boland couldn't believe McLean was killed. She didn't know McLean's disappearance was being investigated until she read a story about McLean's killing Sunday morning.
Mixed in the Facebook posts on McLean's page over the past few months is a link to a news article McLean shared about domestic violence during the pandemic.
With the post, McLean typed one word: Heartbreaking.