Murder-Suicide: Woman killed in elevator one day before her 37th birthday

Hazel Janine Reese/ GoFundMe

BROOKHAVEN, GA- Hazel Reese was 36-years-old and would have turned 37-years-old on Christmas Day.

Brookhaven police were dispatched to the second floor of a Budgetel (Microtel) Hotel at 1840 Corporate Boulevard around 9:11 am on December 24, 2022. When officers arrived, in less than a minute, they found a man with a gunshot wound to the head and Reese face down in a elevator. Both were dead on arrival.

Budgetel/Brookhaven, GA

Her family knew something was wrong when they could not get in touch with her. She was with her 10-year-old’s father, whom she knew over 15 years.

Her family shares with Atl 11 Alive News during an interview that Reese was “willing to forgive and see the good in people. This may have been what led to her tragic death”, as her friends and family do not know why this happened.

Hazel Janine Reese/ATL 11Alive News

She leaves behind two children. A 10-year-old and 16-year-old son. According to a GoFundMe, Reese was the main provider for her two sons.

“Hazel (aka Nene) was a breath of fresh air, she loved everyone, and had a forgiven heart. She always wanted the best for everyone around her. Nene always saw the good in everybody and it hurts that she is no longer with us. Her smile and laughter were contagious,” Joette Thomas wrote. “She wanted to see her boys go to college and make something of themselves, she was a proud mama bear.”

If you or someone you know needs help you can always reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline which is open 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233.

A GoFundMe page has been set up in honor of Reese's boys. Those who feel inclined to donate to help her children can do so here.