Candles, flowers and balloons were on display outside the prison Monday morning after people gathered Sunday night and lit candles to remember the 34-year-old woman police said was strangled by an inmate. Mid-morning on Monday, co-workers walked from their offices to pay their respects, and law enforcement officers from around the region are also showing their support.

Strangers are also being drawn to the prison's front entrance.

WATCH IT: Stream Of Visitors Come To Memorial UNCUT: Aerial Look At Monroe Correctional Complex

Tracy Williams said she started working at the prison about the same time as Officer Biendl eight years ago.

Williams said she has always known the job is dangerous.

There's no place to run, there's no place to go, there's no place to hide,” said Williams. There's no reason why she should be alone with any offender at any moment. But that's the way the job works."

Officials said the Granite Falls woman was assigned to the prison chapel, and according to many co-workers, she had serious concerns about working the post alone.

SLIDESHOW: Candlelight Vigil Held Outside Prison

WATCH IT: Co-Workers Of Slain Guard Voice Safety Concerns

On Saturday night, inmate Byron Scherf was found near the chapel after being absent for a 9 p.m. head count, the Washington State Department of Corrections said.

Byron E. Scherf Monroe Prison Inmate 1/30 Byron E. Scherf

Scherf was found three minutes later in the chapel lobby and told officers he'd planned to escape, the DOC said.

More than an hour later, staff members noticed that a correctional officer's keys and radio were missing and Biendl did not show up for a shift change. Minutes later, Biendl was found strangled with a microphone cord.

Scherf is the prime suspect in the killing.

Scherf is a three-strikes offender sentenced to life in prison without parole for assault and rape convictions.

KIRO’s partner, the Daily Herald of Everett, reported the first strike for 52-year-old Scherf was for a 1978 assault. His second strike was for a 1981 rape in Pierce County in which he kidnapped and assaulted a waitress at an abandoned house. He poured gasoline on the woman and set her on fire, but she managed to escape.

Scherf's third strike and life sentence followed his 1997 conviction in Spokane for kidnapping and raping a real estate agent near Spangle.

If Scherf is convicted of an aggravated murder charge he could face the death penalty.

Prison officials said when Scherf started serving his life sentence he was under high security. Four years into his sentence, that changed.

“His behavior was as a pretty model offender during that time. He earned his medium custody,” said Monroe Correctional Complex Superintendent Scott Frakes.

Some of Biendl’s co-workers said they wonder if prison administrators could have done more to prevent the killing from happening.

Some said a staff shortage due to budget cuts may have played a role and might have prevented the prison from having more than one guard assigned to the chapel. Last October, the DOC reduced spending by more than $52 million by cutting jobs and freezing positions.

But at a news conference Monday, Gov. Christine Gregoire said there was no custody staff cut at that facility, and officials said the post at the chapel has always been a one-person job.

The investigation into Biendl's slaying is ongoing. An internal investigation is also under way as officials take close look at policies and procedures to determine if there was anything that could have prevented the officer’s death.

The facility remains in lockdown.

Related: State-by-state breakdown of inmates-to-correctional officers; 2000 and 2005: