Michigan: Doctor Kidnaps, Kills Nursing Student Ex-Girlfriend; Kills Himself Following Day
In a deeply distressing incident, Dr. Justin Wendling, a 26-year-old gynecology resident, kidnapped and fatally shot his ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Michigan nursing student Gina Bryant, on October 13, according to FOX News.
The grim events were captured on surveillance video, revealing the horrifying conclusion of their relationship.
Bryant, who was a student at the University of Michigan-Flint, disappeared on October 12 when she left work for her lunch break and failed to return.
Concerned co-workers received unusual text messages from her phone, prompting her boss to report her as missing. An ensuing investigation unveiled the harrowing circumstances of her disappearance.
Michigan doctor Wendling, with whom Bryant had broken up two weeks earlier, was found to have been waiting for her at her home in Macomb, Michigan when she returned for lunch.
Surveillance footage from a neighbor's security camera showed Wendling leading the Michigan nursing student to his car at 1:42 PM, likely employing a firearm and handcuffs, according to La Salle Police Chief Michael Smudzinski.
Wendling and Bryant stopped at a truck stop on Civic Road in La Salle, Illinois, for gas. However, the pump appeared to malfunction, prompting Wendling to enter the store.
It was there that Bryant attempted to flee, leading to a confrontation outside the convenience store. Tragically, Wendling shot her in the head near a row of fuel pumps in the presence of witnesses.
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Michigan Doctor Called His Parents Before Killing Himself
Following this heinous act, Wendling reportedly contacted his parents the next day, confessing to the murder of his ex-girlfriend and indicating his intention to take his own life.
His parents promptly notified authorities about his location in LaSalle, his hometown, per the NY Post.
Surveillance footage and witnesses at the truck stop in LaSalle confirmed that the suspect had killed the victim at approximately 12:00 AM on October 13.
The Michigan doctor subsequently fled to Bettendorf, Iowa, where, as local officers approached his vehicle, he took his own life.
Wendling's family has not issued a statement regarding the incident, while officials at the hospital where he worked as an obstetrics and gynecology resident expressed cooperation with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.
Family, Friends Remember the Michigan Nursing Student
Gina Bryant's family revealed that she had been in a relationship with Wendling for about 11 months, during which they had lived together.
However, Bryant moved out at the end of September, disclosing that she had been a victim of abuse, HuffPost noted.
Bryant's mother and sister described her as a beautiful, compassionate, and caring individual who brightened the lives of those around her.
Friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to her memory, recalling her warmth and welcoming nature.
Gina Bryant was in her senior year, enrolled in the accelerated BSN program at the University of Michigan-Flint's School of Nursing.
Cynthia McCurren, the Dean of the School of Nursing, acknowledged the profound impact of Bryant's loss on the community, describing her as an extraordinary young woman with a bright future ahead.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
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