“Tim Israel is my hero and in my heart he will always be a true soldier ... ,” she writes. “I love you baby and i miss you so much ...”

Barton couldn’t be reached for comment late Thursday. Elwood police officials have previously said they would have no comment on Timothy Israel’s death, instead referring questions to the Indiana State Police. State police detectives have said they will not comment until their investigation of the incident is complete.

Keith Israel, Timothy Israel’s father, said his son wouldn’t have battered the girl, and claimed the girl later told him that she had made up the incident.

“She told me that he did not hit her, that she attacked him,” Keith Israel said.

Keith Israel also said because his son was against abortion, Timothy wouldn’t have sat on the girl’s stomach to hurt the fetus. He also doubts the girl is pregnant.

“I’ve never heard that from anyone,” he said. “Tim and I were close and he would have told me.”

Keith Israel said he didn’t know the girl’s age. He said when Timothy introduced him to the girl, she said she was 18. In February, he said, he learned she was 16. He said the girl was living with Timothy because her parents kicked her out of her home.

“She certainly looks a lot older than 16,” Keith Israel said. “I believed her when she told me she was 18. I thought she was 19 or 20.”