Ethlin Thompson was initially in denial that her 91-year-old husband of 30 years is gone. Tuesday night, she would spend her first night in their home without him by her side.
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Last Wednesday, three men broke into their home in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section, tied them up and robbed them. She was able to untie herself and call 911, but her husband, Waldiman, died of a heart attack during the ordeal.
Ethlin survived, and returned to the house after she was released from the hospital to give detectives a walkthrough of what happened.
Despite the horrific event that stole her husband of more than 30 years, her family said Ethlin is a woman of faith.
"She said she forgives whoever done this," Ethlin's great niece Dorene Hunter said. "And I don't know how she has the courage to say that but I admire her for that."
Physically, Ethlin is OK, but psychologically sources say she is fragile.
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The couple rented out apartments in their brownstone.
Photos: Scene of deadly home invasion in Brooklyn
"You couldn't ask for nicer people. Loving and caring. They welcomed me into their home," said Anil Lopez, who rents an apartment from the couple.
Detectives have since released photos of a person of interest in the case. The man was last seen wearing all dark clothing, a backpack and carrying what appears to be a locked box.
Anyone with information in regards to this person's identity is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
A reward is being offered for anyone who can help solve the case.