Husband of murdered Jacksonville teacher: 'We were the real deal'

It's been four days since Deborah Liles’ husband, Mike, came home to find his wife dead.

On Monday, he invited Action News Jax's Michael Yoshida into his home.

While he's heartbroken, he wanted to make sure his wife's legacy continues.

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They met as children, later married and were together 41 years until her death. And while nothing has been the same since her murder, he said he knows her love lives on.

She was a ray of light in a sometimes dark world," Mike Liles said Monday, speaking about the life his wife lived, with his son at his side.

“She had four major loves in life -- God, music, family and kids,” Mike Liles said.

Deborah Liles taught music, most recently at San Jose Elementary School.

“She thought God had made a unique sound in children’s voices and she was committed to helping children learn how to sing,” Mike Liles said.

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The love of Mike Liles' life was taken away. He came home from work last Thursday to find his wife, Debbie, dead in their home. Police say she was murdered. On Monday, Liles walked us through the horrific scene he found last Thursday. He came home from work, saw his wife’s car missing and items scattered everywhere. Then he found her lying in their kitchen.

“None of it was making sense. There was blood everywhere and the weapon that killed her was laying on the floor,” Liles said.

Since that moment, Liles said nothing's been the same.

“I’m a man of faith and I’m a compassionate man but I have no compassion for someone who could do to my wife what they did,” Liles said.

But as he waits for justice, he’s focused on the life they shared, including a dream trip to New York just days before her death.

“We even missed our flight coming home and sat at the airport not caring. We just enjoyed each other’s company.  We were the real deal and we absolutely adored each. I told her one time … I couldn't imagine myself alone but I could not ever imagine myself with anyone else. Because she was the yin to my yang. The beauty of our faith is I know where she is … that is sustaining to me, to know … We'll see each other again,” Liles said.

During their New York trip, the Lileses met singer Josh Groban. Someone told him about Deborah Liles' murder via Twitter, and Groban responded, "So tragic. My heart goes out to her family and I hope her killer is brought to justice."

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