Shawn Doiron said he saw Donna O'Rielly escape from a Moncton house. He said it is "really scary" that she was kept so close to his house. (CBC)Abducted woman Donna O'Rielly escaped a Moncton home wearing nothing but panties and a T-shirt before jumping into a courier vehicle, according to an eyewitness.

Shawn Doiron, who lives on Sixth Street next door to the home where several police cars were seen on Wednesday, said he was outside smoking when he saw a woman run out the driveway with her hands in the air.

"She jumped in the truck. She was really scared," Doiron said.

"[The truck driver] looked really scared. He looked toward me and then he sped off with her. She was just wearing a pair of panties and a white T-shirt. That was all that there was on her, but I had no idea it was Mrs. O'Rielly."

Doiron said he found the incident "quite odd" and it all came together for him when he found out later that it was O'Rielly.

"That was when it was shocking," he said.

"I couldn't believe it was her next door. It was weird to find out but it was closure as well to find out that she was alright."

Doiron described the house as a "boarding house" and said he did not know the accused, who he described as "really quiet."

"The guy would stick to himself, not really talk to anybody, pretty much do his own thing," he said.

The eyewitness said the worst part about the discovery is finding out that O'Rielly was so close to him during that time.

"When you have a kid, everything changes and you are more secure," he said.

"It was really scary."

Investigation continues

Donna O'Rielly, 54, was found alive Wednesday during the lunch hour by a driver in Moncton, N.B. (CBC)Police are still at the house on Thursday.

The Codiac RCMP have arrested a 62-year-old man in connection with O'Rielly's abduction.

He's expected to appear in Moncton provincial court on Thursday afternoon.

A RCMP statement issued on Thursday said the police are meeting with the Crown prosecutor to determine what charges would be laid.

O'Rielly's family will speak to the media after the court appearance.

A family statement issued on Wednesday called O'Rielly's appearance an "absolute miracle."

"We wholeheartedly feel that you all are a part of making this a happy ending and I will tell you why. Although we had been asked to not discuss the case when we met with Donna tonight, she did mention that she was able to watch a large part of the media coverage," the statement said.

"Therefore, your support to this family gave Donna the strength to continue day to day and ultimately to brave an escape. Each of you should take a piece of this satisfaction and share it with your network."

O'Rielly's family has believed for the last month that she had been abducted.

Security video released by the RCMP showed her leaving the Highfield Square Mall on Feb. 26 after she finished work at an H&R Block office.

Her car was left behind in the mall's parking lot.

O'Rielly grew up in Isle aux Morts, in southwestern Newfoundland. She and her family moved from the central Newfoundland town of Gander to Moncton in 2004.