ELWOOD, Ind. -- The mother of a man who police said fatally shot his estranged wife and then himself explained what she said happened in the hours leading up to the murder-suicide.

Police said Robert Lamberson (pictured), 26, shot Kristina Lamberson, also 26, Sunday night, with her 4-year-old daughter in the home. The girl was not injured.

"I loved her, too. She was like a part of our family, too," said Micheale Deckard. "When the cops told me he was dead and that she was dead and that he shot her, you don't know. And then when I found out Kirsten was there … I can't explain it."

Lamberson was arrested the day before the shootings for allegedly violating a protection order. Authorities said he had been threatening Kristina, but Deckard said Kristina was text messaging and calling Robert, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

Deckard also said that Kristina called Robert an hour before the shootings.

"He went from here to there, and she must have let him in because there was no forced entry," Deckard said. "They went to the room and I don't know what happened. I wasn't there. All I know is that he was very, very distressed."

While Deckard grieves her son, her heart also goes out to Kristina's family and two children.

"I'm so sorry. I want to bring them all back, if I would have known," Deckard said.

Kristina's daughter and 7-year-old son are now staying with her family.