The young woman who had two children with slain senior citizen Robert Godwin has revealed her lover's last words to her, minutes before he was murdered.

Wiping away tears, Angela Smith, 34, said the 74-year-old had promised to be back quickly after a brief pursuit collecting empty soda cans, which was his hobby.

'He said "I love you girl" as he left. He always said that. He was looking forward to the lunch I was cooking.

'He said "Call me when the food done" and I was laughing as I said "Ok I'll call you. I got you".

'He loved my chicken and dressing and couldn't wait to eat it.'

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Angela Smith, pictured center of left and right, told DailyMail.com that Robert Godwin, the senior citizen randomly killed by fugitive Steve Stephens, was the love of her life. She is pictured left with their two sons Terell and Marsean at a memorial in the spot where he Godwin killed

But Mr. Godwin never came back. He was murdered at random and in cold blood by shooter Steve Stephens, who is now a fugitive and being hunted nation wide.

A vigil was held in his memory on Monday night, as the nationwide manhunt for his murderer continues.

Dozens of family, friends and community members gathered Monday evening to remember 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr.

They carried flowers and balloons and hugged and comforted each other, while urging an end to the violence on their city streets.

A vigil was held in his memory on Monday night, as the nationwide manhunt for his murderer continues

Robert Goodwin Sr, 74, was murdered on the sidewalk by Steven Stephens, 37, after having Goodwin say the name of killers girlfriend, Joy Lane

Smith said Mr. Godwin, who was killed close to the house she shares with their children, left the house that day to collect tin cans, a hobby he held for years after retiring in 2011.

'My Baby-daddy had money in the bank. He was driving a 2016 (car). It wasn't about selling the cans, it was his hobby.

'Whenever we went to the grocery store, he'd be checking for cans. This was nothing out of the ordinary for him. He didn't need no money.

Godwin told Smith, center wiping away tears, that he would be right back for lunch and he was going out to collect tin cans, which was a hobby of his after retiring in 2011

Smith cried on the shoulder of her cousin Destiny Flores at a remembrance gathering for Robert Godwin, 74, who was shot and killed by Stephens who broadcast the slaying on Facebook live

'He had nothing to do at the weekend and sometimes he would take his kids.'

She said their children, who were borne out of an 18-year relationship, were devastated by their father's death, but could not fathom why he had been gunned down.

'I keep asking myself "why would you take him? Why would you take him from his children?"... from his son, four days before his birthday.

'I want him (Stephens) to turn himself in so my kids can get justice. They are hurting right now, but they can't understand why this man has done this to them.

'They just want to know why he took somebody who was so precious to them.'

She said their children, who were borne out of an 18-year relationship, were devastated by their father's death, but could not fathom why he had been gunned down

The children are aged 11 and eight and have been given a simple explanation for now, she said.

'I told them he is up there with God. God needed him. I couldn't really explain.

'He was just in the wrong place, wrong time. Anywhere he went he would just protect the kids and now this has happened to him.

'To see him holding his bag up as a defense was like seeing a kid in trouble. It is heartbreaking.'

The Ohio man is wanted on charges of aggravated murder for shooting dead 74-year-old Robert Godwin in a video he then posted to Facebook (above). His girlfriend Angela Smith said the footage was 'heartbreaking'

She said Mr. Godwin had been the love of her life and that she had met him as a teenager.

'He was a good man, I loved him and he loved and respected me. The age difference didn't matter. I didn't care what anybody said. Now I have to live without him and it's very hard.

'I just want him (Stephens) to turn himself in to the police.'

Godwin had ten children, six girls and four boys. A $50,000 reward had been offered for information to help catch his fugitive killer.

Police in Philadelphia deployed SWAT teams and tactical vehicles during a potential sighting of Steve Stephens on Monday, which turned out to be a false alarm

Steve Stephens, who is still on the run in Cleveland, was a loser in love as well as on the gambling tables.

It was a combination of losing the girl he loved and his pay packet on the casino tables that drive him to murder Godwin - and to post the Easter Sunday horror video to Facebook.

The ruthless killer, who randomly took the life of the 74-year-old had little luck and developed a creepy 'party trick' to win the attention of girls in the Cleveland suburb where he grew up.

As a teenager he bought a python and would approach women with his slithering pet around his neck to try and win their attention.

'It was a slimy thing to do and now he's just a snake in the grass too,' said next-door-neighbor Alexis Lee.

Wanted with $50,000 price on his head: Law enforcement in Cleveland say that Steve Stephens could be anywhere in the country

Home: The Facebook killer Steve Stephens was brought up in this eastern section of Cleveland and lived at this home with his mom while growing up, pictured left, and frequented Jack Casino in Cleveland, right, where he gambled

Remembered: Tributes are being laid at the scene of Steve Stephens' Facebook murder of Robert Goodwin. The father and grandfather was walking on the sidewalk when the killing was broadcast

Creepy: Alexis Lee, 34, who had known Stephens since he was a teenager told DailyMail.com he had tried to get her to spend time with him in the local casino, where he had lost heavily. Charisse Leonard, 28, (right) said: 'I thought he was confused about his sexuality and could even have been gay.'

The 34-year-old mother of three said: 'He didn't really know how to talk to us ladies.

'The snake was meant to draw my attention and he regularly told me he had a crush on me.

'But he wasn't my type at all. There was nothing attractive about him. He did have a nice personality though.

'He was great with the kids around here and when he was driving out after seeing his mom he'd stop his car.

'He would tell the kids 'Stay out of trouble, go to school and don't be knuckle heads'.

She added: 'He was good to the kids and he would worry about them crossing the street or getting lost and said' Hold hands now'.

'But he always seemed a bit lost and I'm not surprised that he's upset about his girlfriend and blaming her for what he's done.

'I saw him at the casino a couple of times and he would remind me that he always had a crush on me.

'One he asked me to sit next to him at the tables saying 'Be my queen... be my lucky charm'. But I wasn't interested. I just went home.'

Another local woman Charisse Leonard, 28, said: 'I thought he was confused about his sexuality and could even have been gay.

Stephens said that he wouldn't stop killing until Lane or his mother called him. Lane is reportedly in protective custody now

Loser: Neighbors told how Steve Stephens had no success with girls as he grew up and had been an unsuccessful gambler

Apology: Joy Lane, who Stephens blamed for his actions, said: 'We had been in a relationship for several years. I am sorry that all of this has happened.'

Earlier on Sunday, Stephens blamed casinos and his lack of self control for the 'Easter Sunday massacre' in Cleveland. He specifically names the Jack Casino in Cleveland

'I had never known him to have had a girlfriend. But he had a nice nature as did his mother and family. I never saw his dad.'

Theresa Blevins-Odom, 54, saw the killer, who is 37, just 48 hours before he carried out the slaying of the senior citizen and later posted a Facebook video of the murder.

She told DailyMail.com: 'He seemed quite normal and said have a nice day.

'I am sorry for him and his mother who is a good woman and who has brought her children up to be good people.

'Everybody goes through some problems in their lives and maybe Steve couldn't handle it. I still think he's a good kid.'

He graduated from Myers College business school in 2002 and had found a steady job.

Stephens, worked as case manager at Beech Brook, a behavioral health agency headquartered in Pepper Pike, near Cleveland.

He joined in 2008 and began as a youth mentor for teens and for the past two years as a vocational specialist for the Assertive Community Treatment team, which provides support to older teens and young adults.

He did not have a criminal record and had only been accused of traffic offenses.

But he blew his salary at the tables in the Jack casino, in a former department store in downtown Cleveland, and at one point petitioned for bankruptcy.

He now has a $50,000 price on his head after law enforcement announced reward for information leading to his arrest.

He has been on the run since the deadly incident on Sunday, after cops tried and failed to convince him to turn himself in.

Around midday on Monday, police in Philadelphia investigated multiple calls about a possible sighting of Stephens in a city park, but authorities say it was a false alarm.

Earlier in the day, cops in Cleveland announced that they had widened their search for Stephens to Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan.

When officers tried to track Stephens' phone after the shooting, it 'pinged' in Erie, Pennsylvania - 100 miles east from the scene of the crime.

Residents in these states were asked to be on the lookout for Stephens, who is wanted for aggravated murder and is considered armed and dangerous.

Robert Godwin's son says his father was a retired foundry worker

'We were shocked and horrified to learn of this news today,' agency spokeswoman Nancy Kortemeyer said in a statement

Police Chief Calvin Williams said in a Monday morning press conference that his officers searched dozens of locations the previous night 'to no avail' and have admitted that Stephens could be anywhere.

He added that no more victims have been found, despite Stephens' claim on Facebook that he killed up to 15 people.

He also issued a warning to anyone who may be harboring Stephens.

'If you think you're helping Steve, you're really not. You're going to get yourself in trouble along with him,' Williams said.

Steve Anthony, special agent in charge of Cleveland's FBI office, said Stephens could be almost anywhere now.

'He could be in a lot of place. He could be nearby, he could be far away and anywhere in between,' Anthony said.

Authorities released an update as Stephen's ex-girlfriend, Joy Lane, apologized for the shooting.

Stephens says in the video that he was motivated to kill after breaking up with his girlfriend, identified as Lane, earlier in the day.

He wrote that he 'messed up' in postings on social media and said he would only stop killing if his girlfriend or his mother called him.

Lane is said to be an Air Force veteran, and he said the two dated for three years, and he wishes he'd never met her. Lane is said to be in protective custody.

Stephens says the name of a woman, whom Godwin does not seem to recognize.

'She's the reason that this is about to happen to you,' Stephens tells Godwin before pointing a gun at him. Godwin can be seen shielding his face with the shopping bag.

In a text message to CBS, she said: 'We had been in a relationship for several years. I am sorry that all of this has happened.

'My heart and prayers goes out to the family members of the victim(s).

On Monday, authorities asked residents in Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan to be on the lookout for the Ohio man

'Steve really is a nice guy. He is generous with everyone he knows. He was kind and loving to me and my children.'

The killer's mother,Maggie Green, said Stephens had called by her house on Saturday afternoon and told her, 'If you see me again, it'll be a miracle'.

'He said this is the last time I was going to see him,' she told CNN.

The video of the killing was on Facebook for about three hours before it was removed. Stephens' Facebook page also was eventually removed.

In a separate video posted on Facebook, Stephens claimed to have killed more than a dozen other people.

'Like I said, I killed 13, so I'm working on 14 as we speak,' he said.

Police have not verified any other shootings or deaths, Police Chief Calvin Williams said.

The killing has struck a blow to Facebook's reputation.

'This is a horrific crime and we do not allow this kind of content on Facebook,' said a company spokesperson. 'We work hard to keep a safe environment on Facebook, and are in touch with law enforcement in emergencies when there are direct threats to physical safety.'

The victim's son, Robert Godwin Jr., told Cleveland.com that he can't bring himself to watch the video.

'I haven't watched the video. I haven't even looked at my cellphone or the news,' Godwin said. 'I don't really want to see it.'

He said his father, a retired foundry worker, collected aluminum cans and often walked with a plastic shopping bag, picking cans up if he saw them on ground. The son said he believed his father was looking for cans on Sunday when Stephens approached him.