Husband of slain post office employee heartbroken over loss

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Instead of spending Christmas Eve together, Steve Dempsey, the husband of murdered Dublin Post Office supervisor, 52-year-old Lance Herrera-Dempsey, spent the day making funeral arrangements.

Dempsey's heart sank Saturday morning when he learned of a fatal shooting at the Dublin Post office just hours after Herrera-Dempsey had left for work.

"I called a co-worker who was distraught, and she said, Steve you need to come here now" he added.

Dempsey later learned his husband had been allegedly fatally shot by 24-year-old Deshaune Kilon Stewart, also an employee at the same branch.

Investigators said Herrera-Dempsey, and postal inspector 53-year-old Ginger Ballard who was also murdered, were investigating Stewart for alleged workplace misconduct.

Dempsey said Ballard was a great friend and co-worker.

He'd never heard of Stewart.

"Never, no mention of him, never a conversation" he said Sunday afternoon.

Investigators believed the shooting rampage may be the possible result of workplace retaliation.

Dempsey and Herrera-Dempsey were married in 2014.

The couple had been together 26 years after meeting while serving in the U.S. Army.

"What really set the tone for us is when we were overseas, and in the military, and we met, and we did a lot of traveling while we were overseas."

Dempsey said his husband had spent more than a decade with the U.S. Postal Service first as a carrier, then as a supervisor.

"Whatever he did in life, he did it to the best of his ability" Dempsey added.

He added his husband not only loved his career, but his family and friends.

"He's always going to be with me, he's my soul mate, I'll miss him dearly" Dempsey said.