Candy Marie Halbe, 55, was killed during a family dispute that turned violent at a Merrillville home on West 61st Avenue on December 26, 2017. The argument reportedly began over disciplining a child and involved Robert Stewart, the 35-year-old boyfriend of Halbe’s daughter. Stewart allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding Candy and her 27-year-old son, Ryan Halbe; several other people were in the house at the time but were not physically harmed.

Stewart fled the scene after the shooting and was later found hiding in a nearby shed and taken into custody. The Lake County Coroner ruled both deaths homicides, and Lake County prosecutors filed two counts of murder against Stewart on December 28, 2017. Any readers who knew Candy or Ryan, or who have information about what happened that night, are asked to come forward.