Novena Pratrice Mathis, 38, was found dead inside her car in Benton Harbor, Michigan, on January 7, 2018. Known as Vena, she worked more than 15 years as a medical assistant and phlebotomist at Lakeland Medical Center and Memorial Hospital in South Bend and was remembered for her compassionate care and as a devoted mother of two.

Investigators focused on her longtime boyfriend, William Dawun Edwards, after the discovery. Authorities say Edwards shot Mathis inside her vehicle. He was later arrested in Kalamazoo on unrelated drug and weapons charges and charged with open murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of felony firearm.

Court records show Edwards was convicted of second-degree murder and a weapons charge and received a lengthy prison sentence. Anyone who knew Novena or has information about her case is asked to come forward.