The victim in a murder-suicide that took place in Upstate New York has been identified as nurse Gabrielle Forman, with her family revealing she was in the process of a divorce before her husband killed her.
As Us previously reported, police confirmed that a married couple died in an apparent murder-suicide at their apartment in Cohoes, New York, on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 18. While authorities did not originally reveal the identities of the suspect and victim, they have since been identified as Gabrielle, 30, and her husband, Jadet Forman.
“We can confirm that this was a murder-suicide. It’s clear that the husband shot his wife before turning the gun on himself,” Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler said during a press conference on Wednesday, August 19.
Gabrielle was killed just hours after she returned home from a trip to Georgia, where she celebrated her mother’s birthday and her sister going to college.
“We just can’t believe she’s gone. She was just here,” Gabrielle’s godmother, Angelia Major, told NEWS10. “There is no explanation for it. We can’t even make sense of it.”
Gabrielle’s cousin told WRGB that the victim was on a FaceTime call with her mother when Jadet, 37, stormed into the room and took the phone from her, ending the call.
The cousin said that her mother grew worried, so she asked Gabrielle’s brother to check on her. He then reportedly heard gunfire as he headed to her apartment.
Gabrielle and Jadet had been married for just two years, and her cousin confirmed that they were in the process of a divorce at the time of the killings.
Following the tragedy, Gabrielle’s loved ones have opened up about who she was as a person. Her father, Owen Sterling, told NEWS10 that she was “beautiful, smart, loving, caring.” He added, “She’s just a beautiful soul. Cannot ask for a better daughter.”
Gabrielle worked as a nurse in Saratoga, and she was training to become a practitioner with plans to open her own clinic.
During the press conference on Wednesday, authorities confirmed that Jadet used an illegal ghost gun to kill his wife. Police added that they are in the process of investigating how he got the weapon.
“The firearm would be illegal for anyone to own because it does not have a serial number on it,” Cohoes Police Chief Todd Waldin said. “It can be manufactured by putting together parts that you order through the mail and combine it and create yourself.”
Police also confirmed that Jadet had no criminal history, and authorities never received 911 calls to the apartment regarding any domestic dispute issues.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
