During COVID-19 lockdowns, domestic violence rates across the country spiked to record levels. Three years later, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence says the number of victims is still concerning. If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
In a heartbreaking incident, a Michigan doctor, identified as Dr. Justin Wendling, 26, kidnapped and killed his nursing student ex-girlfriend, Gina Bryant, 25, at an Illinois truck stop before taking his own life in Iowa. Surveillance video captured the horrifying moment when Wendling shot Bryant in the head after she tried to flee.
Bryant had left work on October 12 for her lunch break but never returned, causing concern among her co-workers. They started receiving strange text messages from her phone, and her boss reported her missing. Investigations later revealed that Wendling, whom she had broken up with two weeks prior, was waiting for her when she returned home for lunch in Macomb, Michigan. A neighbor’s security camera captured Wendling leading Bryant to his car before the tragic incident.
Hours later, Wendling stopped at a truck stop in La Salle, Illinois, for gas. When Bryant stepped out of the car and attempted to escape, Wendling tackled her to the ground. Witnesses saw the struggle before Wendling shot her in the head near the fuel pumps. He confessed to his parents over the phone as he fled the scene in his SUV.
A nationwide manhunt was launched for Wendling, and his SUV was eventually spotted at a rest stop in Bettendorf, Iowa. As officers approached, he took his own life by shooting himself.
Bryant’s family and friends have described her as a caring and compassionate person who had recently ended the abusive relationship with Wendling. She had moved out of his apartment two weeks before the tragic incident and had confided in her sister and mother about the abuse she had endured.
The University of Michigan-Flint’s nursing school dean, Cynthia McCurren, expressed deep sorrow over Bryant’s death, calling her an extraordinary young woman with a bright future ahead.
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence in the United States, with organizations like the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence emphasizing the need for support and resources for victims.
