BELVIDERE, N.J. (AP) - A grand jury in New Jersey has found a woman was justified in killing her former fiance who drove from Florida in a bid to rekindle the relationship armed with a pistol, knives, zip ties and duct tape.
Gage Theard, 24, left Milton, Florida - where he was attending Navy flight school - on March 17, stopping in Winchester, Virginia, to buy the zip ties and duct tape, authorities said. He contacted Rachel Morrissey and asked to see her to discuss their breakup. The next day, she initially agreed. But she changed her mind and told Theard she was not willing to resume their relationship and planned to meet a male friend.
Officials said he forced his way into Morrissey’s Allamuchy home, bound the 20-year-old, assaulted her and placed the blade of a knife on her neck when she tried to escape.
After realizing he had committed a crime, he then spoke to her for hours abut death and suicide, authorities said. When Morrissey asked if she was going to live, he replied he “did not know.”
Theard then showed Morrissey how to use his handgun and directed her to shoot him in the head. When she refused, authorities said he threatened to kill her before turning the gun on himself.
Morrissey told authorities she shot him once in the rear shoulder blade area in an attempt to escape with her life. When he began to rise and yell, she fired again, striking Theard in the shoulder area. After the second shot, she called police.
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