Danielle Rae Hagbery, a 22-year-old woman from Manhattan Beach, California, tragically lost her life on January 10, 2010. According to the Los Angeles County coroner's office, Danielle died from gunshot wounds in what was determined to be a murder-suicide incident. Her death occurred in her apartment on the 300 block of 2nd Street. The coroner's office identified her killer as Michael Garrett Nolin, a 24-year-old man with whom Danielle had been in a relationship.
Nolin also died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The events leading up to Danielle's death were marked by a tumultuous relationship with Nolin. Despite initial reports suggesting a business relationship between the two, Danielle's mother, Diane Hagbery, clarified that her daughter and Nolin had been dating for about a year. Danielle had been attempting to end the relationship due to Nolin's increasingly obsessive behavior. Diane described Nolin as relentless, often stalking and harassing Danielle through constant calls and messages. Danielle's roommates had even obtained a restraining order against Nolin due to his behavior.
On the evening of January 9, neighbors reported hearing gunshots, but no one called the police. It wasn't until Danielle failed to show up for work at the Cheesecake Factory on Friday and Saturday that her boss alerted the authorities. When police arrived at the apartment on January 10, they found Danielle with two gunshot wounds to the head and Nolin with a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The case was investigated as a murder-suicide, with no further arrests or suspects involved. Danielle's death highlighted the dangers of obsessive and controlling relationships, and her family and friends were left to mourn the loss of a young woman whose life was cut tragically short.
