In the spring of 2012, the life of 15-year-old Christine Domonique Marcelin was tragically cut short, a devastating event that unfolded in the days following her boyfriend's murder. A student in the 8th grade, Christine was a vibrant teenager who played both the clarinet and saxophone. She was known for her compassionate and giving nature, serving as a mentor in an afterschool program with aspirations of one day becoming a veterinarian and starting her own non-profit organization.
The
series of events leading to Christine's death began on the evening of Friday, April 27, 2012. She was with her boyfriend, Brandon Adams, at Sampson Park in New Orleans when he was reportedly involved in an argument with two young men. Later that evening, after leaving the park, Brandon and his older brother, Eric Adams, were ambushed by two masked individuals. Brandon was fatally shot. In the days that followed, a grieving Christine spent time comforting Brandon's family and attended a vigil held in his memory.
On the night of Sunday, April 29, 2012, Christine contacted her family for a ride home. She later informed them that she would be getting a ride with Eric Adams. However, Christine never made it home. On the morning of Monday, April 30, 2012, a person experiencing homelessness discovered a body in a wooded area off of Alcee Fortier Boulevard. The deceased was soon identified as Christine Domonique Marcelin. An autopsy later revealed she had died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into Christine's murder quickly focused on Eric Adams, her deceased boyfriend's older brother. Authorities believed that Eric blamed Christine for Brandon's death, suspecting she may have set him up. This theory was bolstered by jailhouse informants who claimed Eric had bragged about killing her. Eric Adams was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping, second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and obstruction of justice. During the trial, the prosecution presented its case, but the jury ultimately acquitted Eric Adams of the murder and kidnapping charges. He was, however, found guilty of obstruction of justice for providing investigators with the wrong cell phone when served with a search warrant. For this conviction, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. To date, no one else has been arrested or charged in connection with the murder of Christine Domonique Marcelin.
