In the early morning hours of Sunday, December 6, 2015, the life of 26-year-old Jerica Sade Gabriel was tragically cut short in her Houma, Louisiana home. A native and resident of the city, the young woman was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound to her head.
The investigation into her death quickly focused on her boyfriend, Christopher Martin, who was 36 years old at the time.
A family member of Martin's placed a 911 call, reporting the homicide and leading law enforcement to the residence on Acklen Street. Following an investigation, Martin was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Gabriel's death. He also faced a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As the case proceeded through the legal system, a development occurred in 2017. Christopher Martin entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution. In exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter, the initial first-degree murder charge was dropped. Consequently, Martin was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison for his role in Jerica Gabriel's death. The resolution of the case brought a measure of closure to a community saddened by the loss of a young mother, survived by her daughter, Jour'Ney Martin, as well as her parents and sisters.
