AKRON, Ohio — A birthday party planned for Saturday for the Akron woman and Aultman Hospital social worker who was killed by her firefighter fiance will become a celebration of her life, according to an article from Ohio.com.
Just hours before she was killed, Olivia Hamey was planning her birthday party with Miranda Zenner, who is the owner of Pegasus Pub in Akron. The two quickly became friends.
Last week, Hamey was shot to death by her fiance and Twinsburg firefighter Demetrius T’juan Butler, who then turned the gun on himself.
Zenner told Ohio.com that they agreed to tell Butler that it was a surprise party so he would not disapprove.
Hamey’s older sister, Mary Keen, said Hamey was a fun-loving and caring from the time they were children. Keen said she got the call from her other sister at around 4:30 a.m. that Hamey died.
“She said, ‘Has mom called you yet?'" Keen said. “And I heard her crying on the other end.”
Keen said her family has known Butler since high school. Keen said her family decided not to say anything negative about Butler, since his family, too, is suffering.
“They are going through everything we are going through,” Keen said. And their grief is compounded by the knowledge of the actions he took the morning of Hamey’s death, Keen told Ohio.com.
While talking talking to her sister about four months ago, Hamey told Keen about her plans for a destination wedding with Butler next year.
“At that time, she kind of mentioned that ‘He’s kind of tripping,’ ” Keen said. "He doesn’t like me going out as much as I do. He just wants me at home.”
Keen said she believes Butler had love for her sister, and for whatever reason, things went awry.
Visitation and funeral services for Butler will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Rhoden Memorial Home, 1101 Palmetto Ave., Akron.
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