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'Someone took a very good person': Friends mourn victims in string of Valley murders

Marshal Levine, 72, was found dead by an acquaintance at his counseling office late Friday night. Ten hours before his murder was discovered, two paralegals were shot and killed at a Scottsdale law firm.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Marshal Levine, 72, is the latest victim in a rash of murders police are investigating.

Friends say he was a hypnotherapist and owned a number of business in town.

“A complete shock. He was just not our friend, he was our coworker, we worked together with him,” said Ed Moot as he spent time with Levin’s fiancé Sunday afternoon.

According to another friend, Levine had also worked as a professor who helped students achieve success at Brookline College in the Valley.

“He was a wonderful caring man and real scholar," said Kathleen Burke, Levine’s friend.

Levine was found dead by an acquaintance at his counseling office late Friday night. Ten hours before his murder was discovered, two paralegals were shot and killed at a Scottsdale law firm. One of them was 48 year-old Veleria Sharp. Her neighbor and close friend reacted to her sudden death.

“Someone took a very good person and left two boys with no mom. That’s sad,” said April Howell, Verleria’s neighbor and friend.

READ: Investigators: Double homicide and shooting of Steven Pitt are related

Laura Anderson, 49, the other paralegal, was described by her employers as intellectual and passionate about her job.

“As far as a suspect description in the murder of the two women, we don’t have a suspect description to share at this point,” said Sgt. Vince Lewis with Phoenix police.

But police have released the sketch of the man who they say shot and killed Dr. Steven Pitt Thursday evening.

He was a high-profile forensic psychiatrist.

“He was very proud of his work. And he was so so good at what he did,” said a close colleague who did not want to release her name.

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