'My father wasn't a monster. He was sick,' daughter says

John Evans' daughter Heather told WTAE that she will hold onto good memories of her father and that the family hopes the tragedy will teach people about depression and other mental health issues.

She shared the following about her father:

“I’ve been trying to put this together for a while now, but couldn’t find the right words," she wrote. "My father wasn't a monster. He was sick and we lost him to depression. Most people who know me, know we didn't have the best relationship in the last year. My mom always says it's because we are so similar. My dad was one of our biggest fans. He was the one who taught me how to pitch when I was 8 years old. He never missed a softball game in the 9 years I played. He drove me to every dance practice and made it to every recital even though we all knew I was a terrible dancer. My dad taught all three of us to drive. He taught us how to catch toads at the cottage and to hit a beer bottle target with his gun. He taught me how to shoot spitballs at street signs when we rode in the car, but the importance of never shooting it at anyone. I was "the son he never had" until Zach and Derek entered our lives. Growing up, I was the one laying beside him changing oil in the family car or splicing a wire on a lamp because Bunbun bit it in half. My parents bought me a tool box because I wanted to be just like him. I remember jumping up the stairs on my way to bed, singing about how he was the greatest daddy in the whole wide world. He helped me every step of the way when I decided to get chickens. Using countless hours of his own time, building the coop and of course snuggling my baby chicks; when I had to try to fight to keep them, he didn't miss a single borough hearing. He was a father and a husband. He was just sick. His pride wouldn't allow for treatment. Our family would like to use this as a platform to educate people on the importance of mental health awareness.”

A fundraiser for the Evans family has raised more than $10,000.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “home” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

'My father wasn't a monster. He was sick,' daughter says after dad blows up home on wedding day