Family Member Sheds Light On Sand Springs Woman's Murder

The family of Debi Connor is speaking out about their tragedy. Debi was murdered on Tuesday night in front of her Sand Springs home.

Osage County deputies say her son shot her, then kidnapped his own son, who was living with Debi.

Tim Connor is Debi Connor's brother-in-law and the suspect's uncle.

Robert Connor III was arrested in Texas with his 6-year-old son Wednesday.

His uncle said the murder wasn't about hate or anger, but about mental health.

"I have known her for 45 years," Tim said. "As good as anybody could get."

He said Debi was a lover of life and family.

"She was a really good mother," he said.

But he said Debi's favorite role was as a grandmother. She had eight grandchildren and had recently taken in two of her grandsons, 10-year-old Jonathan and 6-year-old Declan.

It was Jonathan who called 911.

Court papers show he ran to a neighbors and hid in the bathroom after watching his dad kill his grandma.

8/22/2013 Related Story: 911 Call Released In Sand Springs Grandmother's Murder

Debi's son, Robert Connor III, has been charged with the murder.

The family knows him as Trey.

"He loved those kids, just being with the kids," Tim said. "I just can't imagine him doing anything in his right mind that would do anything to hurt him being with those kids."

Tim said Trey was schizophrenic and had stopped taking his medication about three months ago.

He said Debi desperately tried to get her son help.

"As long as he was on medicine, he was fine. It's the fact that he was off the medicine for so long and he had no one living with him to make him take it, and you can't make an adult do something they don't want to do," Tim said.

He said the family is still trying to process their tragedy and is certain Debi has already forgiven her son.

"Would she want people to be angry with her son? I don't think so," Tim said. "I think she's probably happier now, being in a place where she could be reunited with her husband, and I think she just doesn't want people to be sad, she just wants people to be happy."

Both of the boys are now with their aunt.

Robert Connor has not waived his extradition. If he does, deputies from Osage County have 10 days to bring him back to Oklahoma.

In the meantime, the family is planning Debi's funeral.

A memorial account has been set up to help pay for her funeral expenses. The Deborah Connor Memorial Fund account is at the Sand Springs Federal Credit Union at 202 East Morrow Road, in Sand Springs.