Family, friends mourn 3 who died in Springfield murder-suicide

Court documents show gunman had past allegation of stalking

The father of a 21-year old woman, one of three members of a well-known Springfield family who died in a murder-suicide this week, and the son of the man police said pulled the trigger grappled separately Thursday with what led to this tragedy.

Meanwhile, court documents uncovered by the Springfield News-Sun contain a previous allegation of stalking against Eric Sirons, the man police say was the shooter.

EXTRA: 3 dead in Springfield murder-suicide, police say

Police chief Lee Graf said it is believed 56-year-old Eric Sirons opened fire in the home with a handgun and shot and killed his wife, Jennifer Sirons and his step-daughter, Andrea Heiser. He then killed himself, Graf said. Police are continuing to investigate.

Randy Heiser, Andrea Heiser’s biological father, said he and the family are doing the best they can.

“What I’m grasping onto is the last time I saw my daughter, I always do this, when she got out of the car I said ‘I love you,’” he said. “That is helping but nothing is going to help replace her.”

Randy Heiser said Andrea Heiser had just turned 21 and had so much to live for.

“She had everything going for her,” Randy Heiser said. “And it’s all gone in a day. She was an outgoing girl and wouldn’t hurt a fly. Would do anything for anybody.”

Andrea Heiser and Jennifer Sirons were each other’s rock, Randy Heiser said.

“Her and her mom were best friends,” he said. “I loved her more than anything.”

“There is nothing positive out of this, but if there is something positive it’s that they are together now.”

Jennifer Sirons and Randy Heiser were married for 10 years, he said.

He said there is no making sense of the killing.

“I think mental health awareness needs to be brought out and my point is if you see something in somebody that is not right don’t sweep it under the rug,” Randy Heiser said. “If you’re stable this doesn’t happen.”

MORE: 3 dead in apparent murder-suicide, police call it ‘senseless tragedy’

Jennifer Sirons was the Clark County Juvenile Court’s chief financial officer.

The court closed early Wednesday afternoon for the sake of the staff following the news of the slaying, Clark County Juvenile Judge Robert Vaughn said, but the office did reopen Thursday

“We are open and trying to function as normally as possible, although as you can imagine it is difficult,” Vaughn said. “We have several staff members who were particularly close to Jen who has opted to take personal time off today. We are doing the best we can at this point; the court is open.”

Eric Sirons’ son, Andrew, said the couple’s relationship had deteriorated, but that the father he knew was not a bad person.

“People kind of have a negative view on him right now…but he was a really good man, he would do anything for anybody, if they needed help, he would drop what he was doing and come help,” Andrew Sirons said.

Calls made to 911 from inside the house during the shooting indicate Jennifer’s three other daughters hid in a bathroom during the shooting. Two of the girls go to the Northeastern Local School District. The district has brought counselors into the school to help students suffering from the tragedy, superintendent John Kronour said.

“I don’t think you are ever really prepared for these kinds of things,” he said.

Court documents show Eric Sirons was the subject of stalking allegations by a different woman in 2002, according to Clark County public records uncovered by the Springfield News-Sun. The request was eventually dismissed after the parties involved reached an agreement, the documents say.

READ: Springfield murder-suicide: Couple was going through divorce

The request also sought protection for the woman’s daughter.

“Eric Sirons came to my house on 9/4/02 at approximately 11:45 p.m. to 12 a.m.,” the request says. “This was immediately after a male friend had left my house. Eric rang my doorbell and saw me in the house.”

The woman said she called the sheriff’s office.

“He obviously watched my house,” the request says. “I am afraid to leave windows open for fear he will come in. I had to change my locks on doors.”

The request alleges Eric Sirons made numerous phone calls to the woman and followed her on dates, the request says.

“I also changed my cell phone number,” the report says.

The woman also alleged she received a note from him.

“A note from him on 6/2/02 states that he has a different plan for the ending (of) this relationship and that he deserves ‘the ultimate payday,’” the request says.

The protection order was dismissed on Sept. 25, 2002, by Clark County Magistrate Joel Salway after the parties reached an agreement, the court documents say. As part of the request’s dismissal, Eric Sirons was ordered to pay the court costs.

The Springfield News-Sun reached out to the woman who filed the request but she did not reply to a request for comment.

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