Sanford Mother Surprised Son Would Shoot Himself, Ex-Girlfriend

Gregory Schultz liked putting his thoughts on paper -- mostly when it came to Rosa Speagle.

"He loved Rosa. He loved her with all his heart and he felt good," said Deborah Schultz-McKay, Gregory's mother.

Deborah Schultz-McKay said her son would write long essays about Speagle, describing how much they enjoyed being together.She said it came as a shock when police said Schultz kidnapped Speagle from Central Carolina Community College in Sanford. Authorities say he pulled her through the woods and shot her before turning the gun on himself.

"It doesn't seem real," Schultz-McKay said.

According to court records, Schultz had a history of violence in Lee County, but his mother never thought he would harm Speagle, especially when she read his writings.

In a six-page letter, Schultz speaks about love and passion, about how quickly he and Speagle moved in together and how much he liked her 5-year-old boy. However, days before the deadly shooting, Schultz and Speagle decided to go their separate ways for awhile and Schultz moved out.

Schultz's mother believes her son could not handle their breakup.

"I don't know. I'm just trying to be strong, trying to get through this," Schultz-McCay said.

Schultz-McKay said she did not realize her son was unhappy. She believes he needed professional help -- help she regrets she was not able to give him.