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'He’s very innocent here ': Ponder murder victim sought new life in Texas

Seth Richardson, 29, was killed on Wednesday after only being in north Texas for a few hours.

PONDER, Texas – Seth Richardson's family arrived in Denton County on Saturday in search of answers.

The search has proved elusive so far.

"He was planning to come out here, but last week was so quick," his mom, Angie, told WFAA on Sunday. "He wanted to get married and have a family. That was his real goal here."

Seth was one of five people that died in a Ponder home last week during a tragic murder-suicide.

He was the long-distance boyfriend of Amanda Simpson, whose ex-husband Justin Painter walked into her home on Wednesday and killed the couple's three children and Richardson, and shot Amanda before killing himself.

Seth Richardson. Photo: Courtesy

"He had only been here a few hours then," said Angie. "There are things I want to know."

She said the family was hoping to get a briefing from investigators on Monday at some point.

Seth, who had two daughters of his own back on the East Coast, seemed eager to get to Texas and start a family, according to his mother.

"But he left on Monday quick," she said. "He really was innocent in all this."

Seth Richardson's mother, Angie

Sunday evening, the Richardson family stopped by a makeshift memorial in the Ponder neighborhood where the shooting took place.

They wanted to pay their respects.

Over the weekend, Simpson was released from the hospital, after a series of emotional Facebook Live posts during which she mourned the loss of her three kids and mentioned Seth. The videos have since been taken down.

On Sunday night, there was a vigil and balloon release at the kids' elementary school.

Authorities haven't provided an update on the investigation since last week.

The judge that signed off on Amanda and Justin's divorce issued a rare and strong statement on Friday, denying that anyone's mental health was an issue during the recent proceedings.

"The parties, in their Mediated Settlement Agreement, denied any family violence and mental health issues," Judge Nancy Berger wrote in a statement from the 322nd District Court in Tarrant County.

DONATE: Seth Richardson funeral costs

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