PARK HILL, Okla. -- A family is grieving over the loss of wife and mother Malinda Phillips. The 36-year-old was hit and killed by a man fleeing from police in Tahlequah after shoplifting from Walmart.
Scott Phillips had breakfast with his wife of 16 years Friday morning. When they left it was like any other day.
"Told her I loved her and she said I love you, gave her a kiss and she went to jury duty," said Phillips.
He says before she went to jury duty, Malinda paused longer than usual to look at him. He believes this moment was fate.
"Somehow that was going to be the last time I was going to see her," said Phillips.
Police say the mom of two was killed by 35-year-old Aram Catron. He slammed into Phillips on Choctaw street as he was fleeing from police after shoplifting from Walmart.
Phillips is left angry, wanting to know why something so terrible happened to his wife.
"If he shoplifted something at Walmart it’s not worth my wife’s life I guarantee you," said Phillips.
Phillips says Catron stole more than he realizes.
"They’re not going to have their mom around when they get married or have kids. They’re not going to get to experience that, to have their grandma," said Phillips.
Their house is covered in pictures of their 15 and 13-year-old daughters. Malinda was the team manager for her daughter's softball team.
"She set up the schedules, she orders the uniforms," said Phillips.
Not only an all-star mom, but a valued worker at Grand Lake Mental Health Center.
"She’s been at that job for six months and she got Employee of the Year," said Phillips.
Phillips tells Two Works For You it's going to be hard trying to fill in Malinda's shoes, but he has a lot of family nearby and the support from his daughters.
The family wishes to send a message to anyone watching.
"Always love your family, let them know because you just never know," said Phillips's cousin.
The family plans to set up a GoFundMe account and hold a benefits for Malinda in the first week of February.
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