Jenna Soderberg.Photo: GoFundMe
A Houston couple is dead after police say that a man shot his girlfriend at a downtown hotel before turning the gun on himself.
While the motive of the murder-suicide was unclear, authorities announced last week that the two were in a dating relationship that was fraught with violence and turmoil.
On July 4, 2019, Byrd and Soderberg went to a Burger King in Austin. According to Soderberg’s court filing, Byrd allegedly assaulted her in the parking lot, causing her to flee to the women’s restroom. Byrd left the scene when Burger King employees threatened to call police.
In her filing for a protective order, Soderberg said that Byrd had previously assaulted her.
“I want this protective order because I am afraid for my safety when Sherrick is around,” Soderberg wrote in her application. “The incident on July 4, 2019 showed me that Sherrick is erratic and aggressive and I am afraid of future violence. I am scared of what could happen if Sherrick is allowed to be around me and I want this protective order to keep me safe.”
The restraining order was dismissed after authorities were unable to find Byrd.
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Originally charged with felony assault charges, he he pleaded guilty to a lesser domestic violence charge in Travis County.
It’s unclear why Soderberg and Byrd met at the hotel, but the meeting ended in tragedy — leaving her family devastated at their sudden loss.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
