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'I hope that's not her': Woman found dead in Springfield home had just moved

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A history of drug use could be what connects a woman found dead in a Springfield home to two other victims and the man who lived there, according to the woman’s brother.

Anthony Ryans, 49, told Boston 25 News his sister had struggled with drug use and that’s only thing he imagined could’ve connected her to a man with a history of violence.

“She had some issues,” Ryans said on a video call Tuesday. “But overall, she was a very good person.”

Ernestine Ryans, 47, had only moved to Springfield in February, according to her brother Anthony. Stine (pronounced Steen), as her family referred to her, had been transferred there from Hartford, just a month before she was reported missing.

Anthony told Boston 25 News he and his mother had heard sporadic reports of people spotting Ernestine in Hartford, he never imagined she would’ve turned up dead in a home in Springfield.

Last week, Ernestine was one of three women found dead at the home of Stewart Weldon, who now faces charges connected to two separate kidnapping incidents, according to court records.

Weldon has not been charged in connection to the deaths of Ernestine Ryans, America Lyden, 34, and Kayla Escalante, 27 – who were all found dead at the home where he lived.

“She had a long history of substance abuse,” Anthony said of his younger sister. “With her and all of the victims, I would imagine that was the connection.”

MORE: Springfield mayor demands answers after bodies found in suspect's home

He said there was a missing persons report filed out of Springfield, but his family felt strongly she was back in the Hartford area.

“We knew something was wrong,” Anthony said. “She hadn’t reached out to anyone. So we knew something was wrong.”

He said she had gone out of contact for a day or two at a time in the past, but had never disappeared for that long.

“Her daughter was in the house with her in Springfield,” Anthony said.

According to Anthony, Ernestine has a 12-year-old daughter who lived with her and a 25-year-old daughter who lives in Pennsylvania.

Saturday morning, Anthony said his family members called each other about a news report they had seen about three bodies found in a Springfield home.

“We all called each other that Saturday morning when we saw it on the news. When my mom saw it, she said I hope that’s not my daughter,” Anthony explained. “We all said, ‘we hope that’s not Stine.’”

It wasn't until Sunday evening that two detectives showed up at Anthony's mother's house in Connecticut. The detectives told the family Ernestine had been found dead. All they would say is that she was a victim of a homicide.

Anthony said detectives didn’t give his family any details and charges have not been filed against the man who lived at the home where Ernestine was found.

“There’s disbelief,” Anthony said. “You don’t want to believe it. My mother went into denial right away.”

Anthony told Boston 25 News he hadn’t spoken to Ernestine recently because he was hoping it would push her to get her life together.

“She had been in contact with my sisters more often,” he said. “[When] you’re ready to get yourself together, I’ll be around. My love was tough love.”

Anthony said he can’t imagine what would have connected his sister to Weldon.

“I work in the criminal justice system and I just feel that there are some people who deserve to be in jail. I read a little bit about his history,” he said. “There are a lot of questions. Why was this guy out in the community?”

Anthony said his sister had issues, but certainly didn’t deserve what happened to her.

“She was a kind, gentle spirit. Got along with everyone. If she was your friend, she was your friend,” he said. “She was loved. She will be missed by many.”

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