Wilkinson told police that “there were two men responsible for this and he had nothing to do with it,” according to court records.

Ward’s stepfather and mother told police that no one else except themselves, Ward and Wilkinson were in the home at the time of the shooting.

Ward was a mother of two young children, a 23-month-old son, Steven III, and a 6-year-old daughter, Adrianna.

Reisch said he and Ward had been engaged for about two years but broke up last September. He said Ward started dating Wilkinson about a month later. He said he disapproved of Wilkinson’s lifestyle and disliked his being around the children. He said he thought Ward had enjoyed being with Wilkinson because he was younger and someone she could party with.

“She got pregnant at a young age, so she never got to go out and live the party life,” he said. “I wanted her back so bad. I feel like if I could have gotten her back, that this never would have happened.”

Reisch said Ward loved to shop, watch old mafia movies, dance and ride on the back of Reisch’s motorcycle.

“She had a soul of gold,” he said.