Local

Jacksonville father returns to condo where daughters shot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In an Action News Jax exclusive, our crew joined a heartbroken father returning to the Jacksonville condo where his daughters were shot.

Roger Rucker asked us to be there, not wanting to go to the condo off San Juan Avenue on Monday alone.

His daughter, Lisa Rucker, remains in the hospital.

Jacksonville police said Chad Absher shot Lisa and killed her sister, Ashlee, in front of her 8-year-old son.

“[Ashlee is] with her mother in heaven,” Roger Rucker said.

Much of what Action News Jax found in the condo was too graphic for television.

“It’s bad being in here,” Roger Rucker said.  “But we have a lot to do. We have to get it moved by the 20th.”

Monday, Rucker collected some supplies for his grandchildren, and fed the two kittens now left alone.

He was happy to tell us that he just found the animals permanent homes.

Inside Ashlee Rucker’s bedroom, we found obvious signs of a struggle.  Police said Absher was choking Ashlee Rucker early Tuesday morning before firing the shots.

The door leading out to the porch had an evidence sticker across the latch.

“It’s hard, but the way I’m getting by now is the grandbabies are OK and Lisa’s alive,” Rucker said.

Family members expect a full recovery for Lisa Rucker, who should be released from the hospital in the next week.