Foerstel remembered fondly by friends

published by admin on Tue, 09/06/2011 - 14:14

By KRIS REILLY, Editor

Friends described Donna Foerstel as a fun-loving woman who appeared to have a “normal” relationship with her live-in boyfriend Richard Eric McGill.

Foerstel was found dead in the Lucerne Valley desert on Aug. 13, and McGill was arrested in Kansas last week in connection with her murder.

“I’m having a really hard time wrapping my mind around the whole thing,” said Foerstel’s friend Darlene Field.

Field said she met Foerstel and McGill shortly after the couple came to Lucerne Valley about seven years ago. Field said she was close with Foerstel and had never seen evidence of an abusive relationship, although the pair did argue “about normal stuff” like money problems.

Foerstel worked for a cleaning service; her main job was to clean the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Lucerne Valley substation. McGill worked various odd jobs and was unemployed at the time of the couple’s disappearance on Aug. 10, Field said.

Anne Prickett, another friend of Foerstel, said McGill appeared to be quiet and low-key. Field agreed.

“He was pretty mellow and kicked back,” Field said. “He liked to drink beer and watch football.”

Field said she did not know the circumstances surrounding her friend’s disappearance; she said she last talked to Foerstel about 10 days before her body was found.

Field said Foerstel enjoyed quilting, “obsessing” over her dogs, playing bingo or slot machines and collecting rocks to decorate her garden. Prickett remembered Foerstel’s generosity.

“I just want her to be recognized as the loving-hearted woman that she was,” Prickett said. “The shoes I have on my feet right now, she gave them to me.”

McGill is currently being held in a Kansas jail on a $1 million murder warrant and other charges. It’s unknown when he might be extradited to California to face trial. For more about McGill's arrest, see the story posted last Thursday or pick up this week's print edition of The Leader.

Kris Reilly can be reached at editor@lucernevalleyleader.com or at (760) 248-7878.