A devastated family tried to make sense of its loss Wednesday as friends mourned slaying victim Brooke Locke on a Facebook page.

Her father, William Locke, choked back emotion, still reeling from the death of his 21-year-old daughter on Monday. The third-year occupational therapy student at Husson University in Bangor was found strangled in her Essex Street apartment. Police have charged Zackery Mailloux, 21, with murder.

“I don’t know what to say,” William Locke said as he jogged between bits of the investigation and the state of his wife, Stacey.

“My current wife is just absolutely beside herself,” Locke said, citing early trauma in her life that made her feel her stepdaughter’s pain and fear at the hands of her attacker.

“My concerns now are the two elderly parents of mine, that they are going through a living hell — a living hell,” he said.

An over-the-road trucker, Locke had to leave his rig in the Los Angeles area. His company flew him home to his wife and their 8-year-old son in Darby, Mont.

“I couldn’t drive,” Locke said. “I couldn’t.” He said the couple had yet to tell their son about Brooke.

Meanwhile, friends and members of the Epsilon Tau Epsilon sorority joined on Facebook to share memories of Brooke Locke. They have planned a candlelight vigil for 5 p.m.Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Edward Little High School. Locke was a graduate of EL.

Sorority sister Nikky Raney posted on the page, “I love that we always left one another with a hug and a reminder that we loved each other.” 

Raney also alluded to Locke’s breakup with Mailloux: “I wish there was more that could have been done.”

Cindy Levesque of Minot Consolidated School wrote, “I was privileged to be Brooke’s fourth-grade teacher. She was bright, extremely hardworking and had a kind heart. Even as a child she had this quiet dignity about her. From everyone’s comments here, it is clear that she never lost her sweet demeanor.

“I’m so thankful to read these fond recollections of Brooke, who, in my mind will always be 10 years old. Peace and love to her family. You are in my prayers.”

Stephanie Luzaitis of Haverhill, Mass., knew Locke at Husson.

“Brooke was my little sister in my sorority,” Luzaitis wrote. “I helped her through the process of becoming my sister and we leaned on each other and she became like my real little sister.”

Luzaitis added, “Her laugh would be contagious and get us all going. And you would never want to cross her because she knew how to fight back. We learned right away not to give her caffeine or she would be bouncing off the walls forever.”

Luzaitis said Locke was “going places. She was getting rid of what held her down and was going to be amazing in life. Now we will never know what amazing contributions she could have made.”

Jenni Brown of Auburn went to EL with Locke.

“We were pretty good friends throughout high school and it hit me hard after hearing about (her death),” Brown said. “I remember switching homework assignments because she was so much better at science and I at art, I guess.”

Brown said she has several pictures of the two of them together and was struck by how the two had grown apart. “I had completely taken our friendship for granted and when I tried to re-establish my friendship, she was gone.”

Locke’s EL debate teacher Candy Gleason remembered Locke as “the sweetest kid.”

“Brooke was honestly one of the sweetest girls I have ever met,” Gleason said. “She was a little shy and unsure of herself in the beginning, but as she went along, that bright smile would light up the room when she would trap her opponent with a well-worded question or in a contradiction.

“She was smart and had a great sense of humor; her giggle was infectious. I mean, seriously infectious. When she started chuckling you could absolutely not help yourself but to join her!”

Gleason said Locke came to visit after graduation. “Her hugs were heartfelt and genuine, just like her. I could see how she was becoming even more beautiful as time went on, as though the goodness inside of her was seeping out for all the world to see.

“This is a tragedy beyond measure. For a such a promising life to be snuffed out before she had a chance to live.”

Friends of Locke on the Facebook page, “Remembering Brooke Locke” are working on fundraising efforts to help her family.

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AUBURN — Friends and family of Brooke Locke will hold a candlelight vigil at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Edward Little High School. The public is invited to attend, and is asked to assemble in front of the bell tower at the school. For more information, contact Chris Camire at 577-6440.