Earlier this week, a newlywed and assistant pastor at a Connecticut church and her husband, a church elder, were found shot dead next to each other in bed.
According to the Christian Post, LaRhonda Jones, an assistant pastor at RIM City Church, and her husband Eric were married a year ago.
Eric was a retired New Haven police officer who served on the force for 20 years, WTNH reports.
“The church is devastated, devastated,” Denarian Gordon, Sr., the senior pastor at RIM City Church in New Haven, told WTNH. “We’re all in a state of shock, disbelief.”
The Waterbury Police Department found the bodies of the couple after LaRhonda did not go to work. LaRhonda’s sister also called police.
Police are investigating and have not released any other details.
A friend of LaRhonda’s, Jennifer Whiten, told reporters that she was a domestic violence survivor who was dedicated to serving God.
“She had a huge presence. Her spirit was just a welcoming spirit, everybody gravitated towards her. Everybody just loved her. It’s just a shock,” Whiten said.
LaRhonda had previously posted on social media about her marriage to Eric, saying Eric was “one of God’s sons.”
“Saturday, March 10, 2018, I married one of God’s sons. He loves me in-spite of me. He is saved for real, he loves God, patient, kind, funny, straightforward, and handsome. I am proud to be his wife and call him my husband. #wearethejones’s” she wrote on Facebook shortly after their wedding.
In another post, LaRhonda wrote a public letter to Eric, calling him “one of God’s greatest blessings.”
“Dear Husband: Eric Jones. You are one of God’s greatest blessings to me. Thank you for choosing me to be your good thing. I am blessed to have you as my husband … Thank you for working so hard for us. For going to work day after day to make things happen for us. It is not going unnoticed. For going out there and doing your best despite the frustrations and obstacles,” she wrote.
Police are still investigating the murders.
Photo courtesy: David von Diemar/Unsplash
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