Family, friends remember woman killed in suspected murder-suicide

Andrea Stubbs, center-right in white, is embraced by another attendee at a vigil for Stubbs’ daughter-in-law, Miranda Schachinger, at the Candlestick Apartments in Midvale on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Schachinger, 26, was discovered dead by police in an apartment at the complex on Friday and appears to be the victim of an alleged murder-suicide. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

MIDVALE — The family and friends of a woman who police believe was shot and killed by the man she was dating want her to be remembered for something more.

“She was so much more than how she died. She was beautiful and smart and loving and kind and a hard-worker. She took care of people all the time,” said Andrea Stubbs, the mother of Miranda Schachinger’s former husband.

She and her husband, Todd Stubbs, gathered with others on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the life of Schachinger, whom they called their “chosen daughter.” They were surrounded by purple ribbons tied to posts and trees, set up to raise awareness for victims of domestic violence.

“I loved her just as much as I love my own daughter,” Andrea Stubbs said, fighting back tears. “There’s not a person on this Earth who met her and didn’t love her.”

She said Schachinger was a good mother, something that everyone will remember about her.

Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

A memorial is set up at a vigil for Miranda Schachinger at the Candlestick Apartments in Midvale on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Schachinger, 26, was discovered dead by police in an apartment at the complex on Friday and appears to be the victim of an alleged murder-suicide.

Schachinger, a 26-year-old care coordinator at an assisted living facility who was finishing up nursing school, was found dead inside an apartment unit at Candlestick Lane Apartments, 170 E. 7800 South, on Friday. She appears to be the victim of an alleged murder-suicide, during which Isaac Andre Renfro, 26, shot her and then after a nearly three-hour standoff with police, turned a gun on himself.

Unified police have not released any additional information about the incident.

“It’s a horrible way to go,” Todd Stubbs said. “She didn’t deserve this.”

Andrea Stubbs said Schachinger, who was originally from Juneau, Alaska, “wasn’t someone who would get caught up in a situation like this — she was smart and she was strong and she knew she could leave and I think she was trying to.”

The couple, who helps care for Schachinger’s young son — their grandson — knew Schachinger was seeing someone, but had never met Renfro. They pleaded with others who might be experiencing the same fate.

“If you’re in an abusive relationship, please tell somebody,” Todd Stubbs said. “Please reach out.”

“We wish we could go back in time and wrap her up and protect her and keep her safe,” Andrea Stubbs said. “We would’ve done anything to help her. We would’ve done anything to save her.”

Schachinger’s mother, Reena Etheridge, spoke of her daughter in a news release issued by the Utah Homicide Survivors nonprofit charity.

“She was a great mother, hard worker and loving to all who crossed paths with her. We would like to thank the amazing police officers, detectives, victim advocates, EMS, firefighters, and other public servants who have sacrificed their time to support, uplift, and mourn with us.”

The family asked for privacy as they mourn their daughter.

Help available

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 or the Utah LINKLine at 1-800-897-5465 for confidential assistance.

Anyone who is a victim of domestic violence or knows of a victim in Salt Lake City is encouraged to call police at 801-799-3000 and ask to speak with a victim advocate or call a 24-hour hotline at 801-580-7969.

Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Andrea and Todd Stubbs talk to journalists about their daughter-in-law, Miranda Schachinger, after a vigil to remember her at the Candlestick Apartments in Midvale on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Schachinger, 26, was discovered dead by police in an apartment at the complex on Friday and appears to be the victim of an alleged murder-suicide.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2ylAiRO