Marie Gabriel, 24, was found dead at her Heatherington Road mansion on Monday. Photo by Norlande Tassy / Handout
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The brother of a 24-year-old Ottawa woman found dead at her home in the Heron Gate area organized a GoFundMe tour to help pay for Marie Gabriel’s funeral and support her two young children.
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Jean Fenelon, 40, Gabriel’s longtime partner and father of her children, has been charged with second-degree murder. David Gabriel and Norlande Tassy, childhood friends, told the newspaper that Marie Gabriel had told them she was trapped in a violent relationship with an elderly man. They said that her partner controlled her every move from where she worked and who she talked to and when she left home. In November, Tassy said, Gabriel moved into a hotel with her children – now ages one and two – and was later offered the Ottawa Community Housing unit on Heatherington Road, where she was living at the time of her death. Shortly after his move, Tassi said, Gabriel returned to Fenelon, who then came with them to the family’s new home.
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“She moved to her new place, where she was trying to escape.” Fenelon’s lawyer told the newspaper on Friday that he was unable to comment on the story. None of the allegations have been tested in court. On the crowdfunding page, Gabriel’s brother wrote: “She was not only a daughter, sister, cousin and friend, but also the mother of 2 small children aged 2 and 1 years.” From 9:30 p.m. on Friday, it had raised slightly more than $ 2,400 from its $ 10,000 target. With files by Taylor Blewett
