Neighbors: Shooting suspect devastated by dad's death

By most accounts, Kim Wolfe led a typical suburban existence: She had a well-paying civil-service job as a jail guard and a home with a neatly manicured lawn.

"She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, saving up for improvements on her house," said neighbor Linda Ferrari, who said news that Wolfe had been arrested on charges of killing two people had shocked their quiet little enclave in North Babylon.

In recent weeks, Ferrari said, Wolfe had been devastated by the death of her father, Robert, on April 1.

"She told me she was dealing with it," said Ferrari, a beauty parlor owner who lives near Wolfe.

Other neighbors recalled happier times, when Wolfe used to go around the neighborhood, handing out candy to children and getting a kick out of doing so. They remember Wolfe family gatherings with loved ones at her single-story brick and vinyl-sided house with the attached garage and bench on the front porch.

"I know her father helped her out with the house, and the people across the street looked after her since she lived alone," said Susan Quinn, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost 24 years. "She was just a nice neighbor."

Neighbors said Wolfe had been living in the house for about four years, and had recently replaced windows and a door, and had hired a gardener.

Another neighbor, Joe Tilleli, said Wolfe was close to her father and uncle, Michael Williams, 56, who she's accused of killing. Both had helped her do work on her house. But she had been distraught that her father had not told her about his dire medical condition.

"She said she was upset that her dad didn't tell her he had cancer in his whole body," Tilleli said. "When she found out from the doctors, it was too late."

A former New York City correction officer, Tilleli said he understands the stresses of her job, but he is shocked to hear that she might hurt anybody.

"She seemed to like her job, but maybe combined with the loss of her father, she just broke," said Tilleli, who said Wolfe had also been lamenting the end of a romantic relationship recently.