Dad seeks answers in daughter's murder

GAS CITY, Ind. (WISH) - An Indiana father is searching for answers after two men were arrested for the murder of his daughter.

The victim, a young mother, was found shot to death in her Gas City home just hours after she called police to report a burglary.

24-Hour-News 8 Anchor Daniel Miller talked with the woman's family Monday evening. They are at a loss for words about what happened.

Ashley Rheam's father and uncle described her as a vibrant person. They said she was friendly, had a decent job and was a good mother. Robert Rheam said the hardest part about her death is explaining to her two children she's gone and not coming back.

"Lots of pain, she's an angel, lots of pain," said Kevin Rheam, Ashley's uncle.

Robert Rheam and his brother Kevin consoled each other as they remember 29-year-old Ashley, Robert's only daughter.

"She was very special to a lot of friends and I think she's probably had more friends that I've ever really known anybody to have," he said.

Over the weekend, it was a friend who found Ashley's body inside her Gas City home.

Crime tape now surrounds the home on East North A Street. Police said Ashley was shot to death. Early Sunday morning,  police arrested two people for her murder. 23-year-old Tyrell Lenior and a 17-year-old. Robert said his daughter didn't know them.

"They should be justice served the same way they did my daughter and she didn't not deserved that," he said.

Rheam leaves behind two small children. Her father said the hardest part will be explaining to them what happened.

"I've told them this was God's way of making his call and they are just full of questions and too really hurting to tell them," he said.

Kevin told 24-Hour-News 8 he knows what they will be going through.

"Life without parents or parent is very, very rough. very hard," he said.

Robert said his daughter's murder brings back bad memories.

"This is a recap of when I was a child; when I was 8 years-old my mother was murdered so I see them kids pain," he said.

Robert said his mother was murdered in Muncie in 1965. He said she was leaving a tavern when a man strangled and stabbed her to death.

Ashley had an 8-year-old girl and a six year old boy. A memorial fund has been set up for them at Salin Bank.

This Friday, a candle light vigil will be held outside her home at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled on Saturday.