Father and brother of Marie Gabriel say she always put others before herself

The last time David Gabriel heard from his sister was roughly four months ago.

Little did he know, it would be the last time he would ever speak to her.

Marie Gabriel, 24, was found dead in her home on Monday, March 28. She leaves behind two young children.

Jean Fenelon, 40, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in her homicide.

“We knew of the challenges she was facing at home,” said David Gabriel on The Sam Laprade Show on April 4. “We tried to reach out, but he always found a way back into her life again.”

Marie’s father, Andy Stone, is currently residing overseas, and said he heard of his daughter’s death from his son, adding he knew instantly what happened based on what family members knew about her relationship with the father of her children. 

“She’s my little girl, and I just want to be in the same place she was, and I want to be there just to hug my son,” said Stone, during an interview on The Sam Laprade Show on April 4.

Stone said he has only interacted with his grandchildren through video calls.

“She would reach out, and then she would go silent,” said Stone. “I am playing catch up with all the information and people know more than I do. I am hearing the information from my son.”

David said Marie was a happy person, who always put others before herself, and would do anything for her kids.

“It was hard for her to have the backbone to leave him,” said David of his sister. “She didn’t want him to take the kids away from her and it’s sad he took it this far.”

David said he knows where the children are, but is disappointed in the decision not to leave them in the family’s care.

“It’s not fair they would not contact us and not place the last two things of Marie in our care,” he said.

Andy said the advice he would give someone who is in a challenging relationship is to run and never look back.

“The faster you can run, just keep running faster,” he added. “Go see someone for help, and just get out.”

A crowdfunding campaign was set up to help pay for funeral costs, and has exceeded its $10,000 goal by raising $10,865 in three days since its launch. 

Please listen to both parts of the interview with David Gabriel and Andy Stone below: