On the day before she would have turned 37, Hazel Janine 'Nene' Reese, a 36-year-old Black mother of two boys, was tragically killed. Her life was cut short on Christmas Eve of 2022, inside a Microtel hotel in Brookhaven, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. She was a woman known for her infectious smile and laughter, a 'proud Mama Bear' who was the main provider for her two sons, aged 10 and 16.
Her family described her as a breath of fresh air, someone who loved everyone and had a forgiving heart, always seeing the best in those around her.
The events of that morning unfolded into a horrific murder-suicide. Police responded to a call of shots fired around 9:15 a.m. and discovered a man with a gunshot wound to his head. Hazel was found lying face down in the hotel elevator, where she had been shot and died. The man, identified as the father of her younger son, was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries. Family members said she had known him for over 15 years.
In the wake of this tragedy, Hazel's family was left to grapple with not only their immense grief but also the difficult task of explaining the loss of both parents to her young sons. Her aunt expressed concern for the boys, who were so accustomed to their mother's constant presence and care for them. While the exact motive for the violence remains unknown to the public, her family believes her tendency to forgive and see the good in people may have played a role in the devastating outcome. They have also suggested that she may have been hiding struggles with mental health and abuse from them. A GoFundMe was established to help provide for her two children, for whom she had dreamed of a college education and a bright future. The investigation concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide, and as the perpetrator died, no arrests were made.
