By Chuck Hustmyre

(Continued)

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In a statement to police following Nowak's Feb. 5 arrest in Orlando for attacking Shipman in the parking lot of the Orlando International Airport, Oefelein said he met Shipman at Florida's Kennedy Space Center in November while training for his December space shuttle mission. Shipman is assigned to nearby Patrick Air Force Base. The two began dating shortly after meeting.

Oefelein said he became romantically involved with Nowak, 43, a Navy Captain who is married and has three children, in 2004, but broke up with her in January after he started dating Shipman.

Oefelein was also married when he and Nowak began their romantic relationship, but he and his wife divorced the following year.

After he broke off his relationship with Nowak, Oefelein said, she "seemed a little disappointed, but she seemed accepting of that."

Shipman was on her way back to her Florida home after spending the weekend with Oefelein in Houston when Nowak allegedly attacked her in the early morning hours of Feb. 5.

"I would [have] never predicted this," Oefelein told detectives. "She had actually wished me a nice weekend, knowing Colleen was gonna spend it with me."

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Crash Landing: The Spectacular Fall of Lisa Nowak

Astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak Charged With Attempted Murder

Contact Chuck Hustmyre at chuck3174@yahoo.com

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