While their relationship didn't last, Jake told me he was a present, devoted dad from day one, a job he took to like a fish to water.

People have said how great he was with her, and I have seen him throughout the years.

Like, I have all these pictures from his niece's fourth birthday party.

And he's like 16 or 17 years old, and he wouldn't even sit at the adult table.

He is with all of these kids, you know, and he's sucking down helium from a balloon to talk in high voices to the kids, and he's just playing with them.

You could just tell how great he was with children in general.

Meanwhile, the people who loved him were left picking up the pieces and walking down the long, dark road of grief.

The day I found out, I have his fly rod from Big Sky Youth Empowerment.