Shaneisha Robinson lost her son, Ben Redix, in a fatal May shooting, and then she lost the confidant that was helping her get through her grief.
Robinson was neighbors with former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett, who died in an apparent drowning accident in Destin, Fla on Tuesday.
Mallett had coached Redix at White Hall High School, where he served as the head football coach.
The coach and player shared a close relationship, the boy’s mother revealed.
“I think he thought Ben was his son,” Robinson said Tuesday in an interview with KARK 4 News.
Robinson described Mallett as someone who was like family and would come over and get a plate of food when she would cook.
And after Redix was killed in a shooting on May 18, Robinson said Mallett was there for her as she dealt with the grief.
“Sometimes he would come over here crying or I’d go over there crying,” Robinson said.
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The mother described Tuesday’s tragic accident that led to Mallett’s death as “like somebody pouring alcohol on an open wound.”
Robinson told the outlet that she had spoken with Mallett before he left for vacation and he had stopped by to let her know he was going out of town, but if she needed anything then he would be there for her.
“He said ‘Little Bit, I’m going out of town.’ He said ‘I love you’ and I said I love you too, bring me something back,” Robinson said.
On Wednesday, Florida authorities said riptides didn’t factor into the apparent drowning of Mallett as they released body cam footage of an officer rushing to the tragic scene.
What has given Robinson some solace in recent days after the tragedy has been that she feels her son and his mentor are both together again.
She hopes to get a football camp started in honor of her son, something that Mallett and Robinson had discussed.
Robinson added Mallett and Redix would be happy with the prospect of having this camp.
“I just feel like they couldn’t be without each other,” Robinson said.
