Colonel's double life exposed

It began in 2007, with break-ins where the main thing stolen was women's lingerie. Few people reported the thefts, and by 2009, local police had more pressing concerns - two women had been sexually assaulted.

Any link between Canadian Air Force Colonel Russell Williams and the crimes at first seemed unthinkable. But after being stopped at a random roadblock, police brought him in for questioning. A nine-hour interrogation would reveal the distinguished colonel's secret life as he confesses to the break-ins and much more.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Laurie Massicotte was Col. Russell Williams' second assault victim. — CBS/48 Hours Mystery

On Sept. 30, 2009, Laurie Massicotte became Col. Russell Williams' second assault victim in Tweed, Ontario. Blindfolded and beaten, her ordeal went on for three-and-a-half hours. She spoke for the first time on television to "48 Hours Mystery."

"I kept thinking, 'before he leaves here, this guy is going to kill me.'"

Video: Williams talks about the attack
48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

On Nov. 25, 2009, two months after Laurie Massicotte's attack, the body of Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38, was found in her home in the nearby town of Brighton.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Marie-France Comeau pictured with former boyfriend Alain Plante. Plante told "48 Hours" her dream was to "discover the world."

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

In his capacity as commander of the CFB Trenton base, Col. Russell Williams sent a condolence letter to Cpl. Marie-France Comeau's father after her murder. Williams would later confess to the crime.

Video: Williams confesses to Comeau's murder
48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Col. Russell Williams confessed to killing Cpl. Marie-France Comeau during an interrogation on Feb. 8, 2010.

Video: Williams confesses to Comeau's murder
48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Jessica Lloyd vanished from her home in Tweed, Ontario on Jan. 28, 2010 - two months after Marie-France Comeau's murder.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Jessica Lloyd poses with her new car. — CBC

Jessica Lloyd's brother, Andy, said his sister bought a new car and new home before her disappearance.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Jessica Lloyd with her brother, Andy. Andy spoke to "48 Hours" about his family's ordeal. He says Jess was outgoing and popular - not the sort to just up and disappear.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Jessica Lloyd, 27, of Tweed, Ontario, was Col. Russell Williams' second homicide victim.

Williams confessed to her murder during an interrogation on Feb. 7, 2010. Police has stopped Williams at a random roadblock and grew suspicious of the colonel when they realized his tires seemed to match tire tracks found near Jessica's home.

Video: Williams confesses to Lloyd's murder
48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Col. Russell Williams was born in Bromsgrove, England. His family later moved to Ontario, Canada.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Russell Williams graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in politics and business. His friend, Jeff Farquar says after a painful breakup, Williams started going to the movies a lot. He memorized the dialogue and seemed to model his life on "Top Gun."

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Russell Williams was given the nickname "Sarge" in college, according to his friend Jeff Farquhar.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Russell Williams joined the Canadian Air Force after graduation.

Remarkably, as hard as they've looked, police found no evidence of any violent or bizarre crimes before the colonel was 44 years old.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Col. Russell Williams flew dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth II and the Canadian Prime Minister.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

At the time of his arrest, Col. Russell Williams commanded CFB Trenton, the largest Air Force base in Canada.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Underwear and bras stolen by Col. Russell Williams — Belleville Ontario court

Police discovered a mountain of stolen underwear: underpants, bras and camisoles stuffed into the rafters of Williams' garage and packed in boxes in the basement - trophies from dozens of break-ins. Break-ins, which, at the time, most of his victims never even knew about.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Russell Williams self portrait modeling women's underwear — Belleville Ontario court

Russell Williams pleaded guilty to the murders of Marie-France Comeau and Jessica Lloyd, to two sexual assaults and an astonishing 82 counts of breaking and entering - the bizarre underwear thefts that started it all. The colonel's own candid self-portraits, showing him modeling the stolen underwear, were shown in court during trial.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Col. Russell Williams took thousands of photographs of himself wearing the underwear he stole from his victims' homes.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Williams' break-ins escalated to sexual assault in Sept. 2009, when he bound and photographed two women.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Underwear and lingerie found in the home of Col. Russell Williams. — Belleville Ontario court

Col. Russell Williams took thousands of photographs of himself wearing the underwear he stole from his victims' homes. Williams' break-in and theft victims included his next-door neighbor.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Col. Williams poses in women's underwear. — Belleville Ontario court

Another of Col. Russell Williams self-portraits. He took thousands of photographs of himself wearing the underwear he stole from his victims' homes.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?

Col. Russell Williams commandign troops at CFB Trenton — CBC

Russell Williams is serving two life sentences for first-degree murder, and additional time for his other charges, at the Kingston Penitentiary in Ontario.

48 Hours Mystery: Name, Rank, Serial Killer?