NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. – A well-known business owner was stabbed and shot to death in front of his two small children in North Webster.

Police say the children's mother 42-year-old Sonya Armontraut is responsible for the murder of 51-year-old Steven Carman.

Steven's brother Christopher Carman was sitting at his kitchen table when he got the call that his older brother had been stabbed and shot to death.

“He said something really terrible has happened to Steve. You need to get over here right now. Sonya shot Steve,” said Christopher.

Christopher cannot say he is shocked by the tragedy.

“It has been such a tumultuous relationship that they had over the years. Something like this did not shock us to the core,” said Christopher.

According to friends of the family, that tumultuous relationship Christopher is referring to is a brewing custody battle over the former couple’s two little girls.

Christopher now has the challenging job of telling his two small nieces that their father is not ever coming back.

“I think they feel that daddy has been hurt really bad and that mommy did it,” said Christopher.
Christopher says his older brother will not soon be forgotten.

“He was such a big heart,” said Christopher.

He says the two that got the most love from Steven Carman’s big heart were his two daughters.
“He adored those two girls, he really did,” said Christopher.

The public viewing for Steven Carman will be Friday December 27th at the McHatton-Sadler funeral chapel.