SOUTH BEND — For Brian Bishop, nights are the hardest.

“When you turn off the lights in bed and you’re alone, and when you wake up in the morning, those are probably the most difficult times.”

He says it’s difficult to fully adjust to the notion that his wife of 10 1/2 years, the mother of his three children, is gone. On February 2, someone walked into a Tinley Park, Ill. Lane Bryant Store and shot six women. Five died, including Bishop’s wife, Jeni. Police called it a botched robbery and, within days, released a sketch of the suspect with help from the only woman in the store who survived.

But nearly five months later, despite tips from the public and pleas from police, there have been no arrests made. Although Bishop is updated every few weeks on the status of the investigation, he said he tries to avoid the details.

“There was so much early on … news that would get your hopes up,” he said. Now, he said he just wants to know when the killer is caught.

“I’m comfortable with the fact that I know they (police) are working hard to try and get him and they and I are both just looking for and needing that break.

“I have to believe there's somebody out there that knows the guy or knows something about him that he couldn't keep quiet or he didn't work alone or whatever the case may be. That person just needs to come forward. Either it grows on their conscience or they break a law and need an out and they’re willing to give him up. That’s, I think, what we’re waiting for. At least I am … but they’ll get him.”

At home, Bishop tries to keep Jeni’s memory alive by showing pictures and sharing stories with their three children, ages 7, 5, and 11 months. He’s also stopped by the Memorial Hospital Intensive Care Unit where Jeni was a nurse. Last month, the hospital presented the first Jeni Bishop Memorial Nursing Scholarship. Most of all, he misses her companionship.

"It’s just the small interaction that, as a husband and wife after 10-and- a-half-years you take for granted: little conversations or even an argument. It would be nice just to have an argument … just a few moments of extra time; but that’s not going to happen. So you have to try not to dwell on what you can’t have and try to focus and be thankful for what you do have,” said Bishop.

He said that includes a great support system from family and friends. Bishop returned to work in March on his birthday. Family and friends help take care of the children.

“We’ve formed a team and everybody’s been great at pitching in and doing what needs to be done,” said Bishop. “It’s a series of peaks and valleys and the peaks are more frequent than the valleys now, and the valleys aren’t as long as they were back in February.”

Police said they have fingerprints from the murderer, but the prints do not match anyone currently in a criminal database. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.