Family, friends and the Goshen community left in shock and mourning following apparent murder-suicide

GOSHEN, Ind. — Family, friends and the Goshen community at large, expressed shock and sadness Tuesday afternoon after learning about the apparent murder-suicide Monday afternoon.

50-year-old Lisa Adkins was shot multiple times in broad daylight at the corner of Clinton and Main Street in Goshen by her ex-husband, Aaron T. Holliday. Holliday eventually led officers on a chase that spanned three different counties. Holliday drove through Cass and Pulaski Counties before ending in Fulton County and eventually dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

ABC57 was able to get in contact with Adkins' daughter. She tells us her mom and Holliday were only married for one year. ABC57 learned the two divorced on October 20, 2025.

David Martinez tells us he was a friend of both Lisa and Aaron, meeting in an addiction recovery group. He says their marriage changed rather quickly.

"At first, she seemed happy. Then, she seemed more and more standoffish with Aaron," Martinez shared.

Adkins' daughter says her mom was trying to get back on her feet, getting out of jail through a work release, so she could have a relationship with her kids and grandkids again. She believes Holliday had this planned but is now left questioning why it happened where it did in broad daylight. 

Her daughter shared her mother just started a job at Olympia Candy Kitchen, just a few hundred feet from where she was killed.

Kare Andersen is a fourth-generation employee at Olympia Candy Kitchen and a longtime acquaintance of Adkins. He says they worked together 30 years ago at Olive Garden in Elkhart. They didn't stay in contact, but when he learned that she was trying to get her life back on track and was on work release, he wanted to help.

He was shocked when he learned what happened.

"She's very willing to help other people. I think that's why she was in the restaurant business, because she loved to help others in times of need, or you know, waiting on them and making sure they're happy. She even told me she was a people pleaser, which can be good and bad, but all around just seemed like a real genuine, good person," Andersen shared.

Martinez says Adkins told him Holliday had been physical with her a few times, but he never in a million years expected this.

"The way he carried himself, maybe he was a good chameleon. He was friendly; he wasn't even there for addiction. He was there to support everyone else. He ran his own recovery church," Martinez explained.

He tells ABC57 Adkins was moving forward with her life after the divorce, but Holliday wouldn't let her go.

"He kept popping up, calling. Even when she moved to Syracuse, she told me he was still trying to come around. She was pretty much done with the situation."

Through the pain, Martinez remembers Adkins as a friend.

"Lisa was a bright, outgoing person who wanted to be loved and loved life."

Adkins' daughter tells us her mom "was a wonderful person working on her life after a horrible divorce."

Adkins' family started a GoFundMe. To donate, click here.