Tulsa Police: Murder Suspect Targeted Victim Out Of Greed

Police say a recent murder-suicide is now linked to a home invasion, and that the crime wasn’t random.

Police say Steven Retherford killed Janet Donavan, stole from her home, then, committed suicide.

Just days before the home invasion, Retherford's ex-girlfriend filed a protective order against him - that ex-girlfriend was friends with the victim.

There's an eerie silence at Janet Donovan's condo; this is where police found her stabbed and beaten to death.

Police say Steven Retherford killed her and stole her money, jewelry and SUV. Investigators have recovered some cash and a few items, but more is still missing.

10/28/2016 Related Story: Police Release Names Of Suspect, Victim In Tulsa's Latest Homicide

"Knew she had some stuff and even made some comments that she had money and jewelry and that sort of thing, and that's what we think the motive for the murder is," Sergeant Dave Walker said.

Police say Retherford's ex-girlfriend and Donovan were friends and lived in the same condominiums, which is how Retherford got wind of what Donovan had inside her home.

"Probably stalked her, waited for her to put the trash out Wednesday night and attacked her," Walker said.

Just days before Donovan's death, Retherford's ex-girlfriend filed a protective order against him. In it, she says after asking him to move out, “He became very angry and verbally abusive.” She went on to say she “feared for her life because he had threatened to shoot" her in the past.

Walker said, "It's pretty dang serious - you go kill someone just because of the stuff they have and you get everyone on edge."

After finding Donovan's body, police had to work fast.  They say Retherford stole a gun from the victim and he had a history of violence.

"He could have easily gone on a killing spree; he steals a gun from Janet and that‘s the one he used to kill himself with," Walker said.

Police are looking at pawn shops to find the rest of the stolen items.