Sister Of Tulsa Homeless Man Killed In Hit-And-Run Speaks Out

The family of a homeless man killed Monday is making funeral arrangements.

The medical examiner finished the autopsy Wednesday.

The death shocked the people who try to help homeless people in Tulsa and in Muskogee where he was from and where his family is grieving.

Stephanie Cook lost her brother Shawn Birdo Monday morning and said with his killer unknown for a day, she couldn't sleep.

But once she saw a picture of Jeremy Thacker, the suspect, she didn't feel much better.

Related Story: Suspect Arrested In Hit-And-Run Death Of Tulsa Homeless Man

“I looked at his picture when it came on my phone, and I thought, ‘Shawn, you will never see the face of the man who killed you and I'm looking right at him,’” said Cook. “It hurt because he didn't deserve that. Shawn was good to everybody.”

Birdo was 47 when he died in his sleep, but it was anything but peaceful.

He was run over by a pickup, before daylight, on the sidewalk outside John 3:16 Mission in Tulsa. He was outside because his girlfriend couldn't sleep inside.

In Muskogee, Birdo's home for many years, he spent some time at the Gospel Rescue Mission where Jack Murr remembers him as friendly and helpful.

"While he was here, quite often he'd already have a job, but he needed a place to stay,” said Murr. “He's a guy you would remember because he had a pretty warm personality and everybody liked him."

While his family is sorting out what comes with having a loved one murdered, they are finding their comfort in the positive things they're hearing and their good memories.

"Everybody he meets becomes a friend and once you got a friend in Shawn, you've got a good one,” said Cook. “Everybody around here misses Shawn."

Funeral arrangements are not complete. There will also be a memorial service for Birdo at John 3:16 Mission.