TROY, Mo. • One day after friends and family paid their final respects to Elizabeth "Betsy" Faria, police arrested her husband for her murder.
Russell Scott Faria, 41, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Authorities declined to discuss a motive for the killing. Faria was being held in lieu of $1 million cash-only bail in the Lincoln County Jail.
Police say Faria, 42, was found dead at 9:40 p.m. Dec. 27 in her home in the 100 block of Sumac Drive. She had been stabbed multiple times with a knife from the kitchen.
Police have not released any other details of the crime, but one family friend described a wake and funeral that were filled with tension because of suspicions about Russell Faria's involvement in his wife's death. Faria had been taken into police custody last week and held for several hours, but he was released without any charges being filed.
The Farias had been married for about 12 years, family members said. Betsy Faria had two daughters from a previous relationship.
Besty Faria's mother, Janet Meyer, declined to comment about the charges against her son-in-law, other than to say: "I can't handle it; I've been close to him as well."
Meanwhile Betsy Faria was remembered for her caring spirit and positive attitude, especially as it related to her two-year struggle with cancer.
Meyer said her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, and found out in October that the disease had spread to her liver. She was undergoing chemotherapy and had gotten a treatment just a few hours before she was killed.
Meyer said her daughter was supposed to find out last week whether the treatment was working.
She didn't really want to talk about the cancer, and she absolutely would not discuss dying," Meyer said.
Friend Susan-Marie Prouty said when she would express concerns about Faria's health, Faria downplayed her condition and tried to make Prouty feel better.
Faria owned Party Starters DJ Service, and Prouty said she had an outgoing personality and tried to make sure everyone was having a good time.
Faria also enjoyed playing tennis, her mother said, and participated in tournaments all over the metro area.
"That was her life, her tennis," she said. "It kept her going."
Pastor Mike Schreiner of Morning Star United Methodist Church in Dardenne Prairie said Faria worked with the youth ministry and also made meals weekly to take to women at a local shelter.
Schreiner said Faria, her husband and one of their daughters attended the church's Christmas Eve service and came up for prayer afterward.
"We had prayed together for good results from the PET scan, so to hear this was shocking," he said.
Schreiner, who conducted Faria's funeral on Tuesday, said she left "a legacy of joy, choosing the positive and serving others."
"When you were in Betsy's presence you always had a smile on your face, and you always left feeling better about yourself," he said.
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