HILLIARD, Fla. – Family members are remembering Sandra Fogarty, Alisha Fogarty and Marissa Rowell as loving women whose lives were cut short nearly a week ago.
The three women were shot and killed last Thursday at a home in Hilliard, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies identified 34-year-old Christopher Rowell, Marissa’s husband, as the shooter. He died Tuesday afternoon from a self-inflicted gunshot.
A 5-year-old girl was also home during the shooting and managed to escape safely after running to a neighbor’s house and telling them that a shooting had taken place in her house.
It was later revealed that the girl was the daughter of Marissa and Christopher.
Jennifer Deehan, an older cousin to Marissa and Alisha and niece to Sandra, spoke with News4JAX about the family’s loss.
“I’m sad and I get angry, because I just, I don’t understand why people do that and why he had to do that,” Deehan said.
Deehan described her aunt, Sandra, as a woman with a lot of personality.
“She recently had cataract surgery at the surgery center I was previously working at,” Deehan explained. “She came out afterward and still a little fuzzy from the anesthesia and was like ‘Woo, this is some good stuff and that doctor is very good looking,’” Deehan said.
Deehan said Marissa was outspoken, while Alisha was on the quieter side. She also revealed that she and Marissa were pregnant with their daughter around the same time, and will always remember that special time.
“My mom overbuys baby clothes,” Deehan said. “So she would buy double of everything, and we would just both get to sit there and go through and pick out what she wanted.”
She also described the relationship between Marissa and Christopher as one that could be volatile at times.
“He would just break their things, throw their stuff out, yell at them, cuss at them in front of the child,” Deehan said.
She said before all three women were killed, they were preparing for a new life. Sandra had just bought a new home in Georgia, and Marissa was planning to take her daughter with her.
“They were set to start a new beginning that Friday, and were not able to,” Deehan said. “She had just bought a new house. They were getting out, getting away and going to live a healthy life.”
The move was tragically halted Thursday night.
Deehan said she has not yet seen the 5-year-old but hopes to soon.
The family is raising money for the funerals and memorials for the three women. Any leftover funds will go toward supporting the little girl.
