DeEric Williams tried to fight back tears as he talked about his longtime partner – Deundray Cottrell – who was killed two weeks ago today.

The 31-year-old Cottrell, a Woodlawn High School graduate and doctoral student, vanished while celebrating the Fourth of July with family in East Lake.

His body was found two days later in a shed just one block from his sister’s home. Authorities have not said publicly how he was killed.

Cottrell and Williams had been together for more than a decade. Several years ago, 31-year-old Julian Morris joined the polyamorous relationship.

Morris has not been charged with any crime but remains a person of interest in Cottrell’s death, police said again on Thursday.

“It’s a complete nightmare,’’ Williams said. “Deundray was my person, definitely my soulmate.”

“Every day is a process,’’ Williams said. “It’s something I would not wish on anyone.”

Williams and other family members and friends gathered Thursday night in front of the vacant house where Cottrell’s body was found on July 6.

They prayed, cried and released balloons in his memory.

“Even though he goes into the ground Saturday, y’all better keep speaking my brother’s name,’’ said Cottrell’s sister, Angelica Harris. “I want y’all to remember how great my brother was.”

“Everybody that came in contact with Deundray was blessed because we don’t all get to come in contact with an angel,’’ said his brother-in-law, Brian Harris. “He served his purpose. He brought us joy.”

Cottrell attended Auburn University at Montgomery for a while and then completed his education with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in marketing from Jacksonville State University.

At the time of his disappearance and death, Cottrell was working on his doctorate.

Cottrell was the founder and CEO of SkiiBoyz Entertainment, described on the Instagram account as Atlanta’s hottest male performance trio and event hosts. He also did freelance marketing jobs, consulting for social media accounts, bartending, massage therapy and worked in photography.

Cottrell and Morris came to Birmingham on the Fourth of July to celebrate the holiday with Harris and other family members.

About 9 p.m., Cottrell went inside to check on his dog and was never seen again.

Morris would later tell the family that he jumped off a balcony, and later would say he committed suicide.

Birmingham police found Cottrell’s body about 3 p.m. that Saturday afternoon.

Harris previously spoke to AL.com about the details of the night of the disappearance and the search that followed.

Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said Thursday that police have still not spoken with Morris, whose lawyer released an earlier statement that denied Morris’s involvement in Cottrell’s death and said his client would not be making any further statements.

“After Mr. Morris’s attorney released the statement, no further attempts have been made to contact him. Mr. Morris is still a person of interest in this case,’’ Wade said. “Our investigators are diligently working to further this investigation.”

Williams said he will miss so many things about Cottrell.

“The talks, the laughs, the silly fights. We created something great (the dance business) and now that’s going down the drain as well. I feel like a part of me is gone.”

Williams said the loss of Morris has also been difficult.

“I loved them both,’’ he said. “I have somebody lost not by choice and somebody lost by hiding and retreating. It hurts.”

“Solving the case would definitely give me closure,’’ Williams said. “We have a missing piece of the puzzle that is choosing not to fill in the blanks.”

Cottrell’s grieving parents – Theresa Cottrell and Glen Jackson – also attended the vigil.

Jackson led the prayer.

“God doesn’t make mistakes,’’ Jackson said. “He will give you peace that surpasses all understanding.”

“I just know God has everything in control,’’ Jackson said, “and justice will come to pass.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.