{"id":129559,"date":"2026-01-23T20:09:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/129559\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T20:09:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:09:14","slug":"valdosta-father-killed-in-triple-murder-remembered-as-devoted-family-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/129559\/","title":{"rendered":"Valdosta father killed in triple murder remembered as devoted family man"},"content":{"rendered":"

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WCTV) – The family of one of the victims of an accused triple murderer<\/a> is speaking out for the first time and mourning their loved one. <\/p>\n

54-year-old Flay Rollins now faces three counts of murder \u2014 two in Leon County and one in Lowndes County. He is accused of shooting and killing his co-worker, Walter \u201cBo\u201d Pettiford, on Jan. 16. <\/p>\n

The family of Pettiford said their world is much quieter now, and many of the moments they once shared feel different without him. <\/p>\n

Keontie Pettiford, one of Walter Pettiford\u2019s daughters, said her father\u2019s death is almost impossible to process. <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe he is going to be a distant memory, because I don\u2019t know how I am going to live my life without my father,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Lindsey Pettiford, Walter\u2019s wife, said he was a true family man \u2014 someone who lived for his children. <\/p>\n

\u201cEven though he had boys, he still was a girl\u2019s dad, and even though I watched him being raised in the house with the girls, I watched how they end up softening him because even though he come hard, he got a soft spot for his daughters,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Walter and his wife, Lindsey, were married for 18 years and raised six daughters together. In all, he had 12 children. They say their world was shattered when they learned of his death. <\/p>\n

Annijah Pettiford, Walter Pettiford\u2019s daughter, says it\u2019s shocking to think someone he worked with could have killed him. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad was like my best friend. I think I am taking his death hard because every year of my life, we always shared birthdays since it is by each other, and it\u2019s like, since my birthday was yesterday, it felt empty without him,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

The Lowndes County Sheriff\u2019s Office says Pettiford\u2019s body was found off Skipper Bridge Road in Valdosta<\/a>. Investigators say he died from a gunshot wound. <\/p>\n

His family says they are still trying to come to terms with the loss. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m waiting on him to like walk in to call me or to say he got the wrong person. I\u2019m waiting on the person to be like, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s not my husband, it\u2019s the wrong person.\u2019 Because everything right now is just like not reality just yet,\u201d Lindsey Pettiford said. <\/p>\n

The family says the husband and father who cared for so many will never be forgotten \u2014 especially during milestone moments. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my last year of school, and I am going to walk the stage knowing he\u2019s not going to be there. He\u2019s not going to be in the crowd seeing me graduate and stuff, so I don\u2019t know, but I am going to try. It just don\u2019t feel at home no more,\u201d Keontie Pettiford said.<\/p>\n

For now, the family is asking for support as they prepare for his memorial service this Saturday. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf I was to see Walter one last time, I wouldn\u2019t have to tell him I love him \u2014 because he already knows,” his wife said. <\/p>\n

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