Ferguson's fiancee, Dawn Brim, tells the Times of Munster that the man borrowed $15,000 but only paid back about $2,000.
The standoff lasted seven hours. Ferguson later died, apparently from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Brim says Ferguson was raising three children on his own after his wife died. He had been living in Texas. His fiancee says Ferguson was in Valparaiso to prepare his former home for new tenants.
