UM-Flint Nursing Student Killed by Ex in Multi-State Tragedy

Last week, the life of Gina Bryant, a promising young nursing student at the University of Michigan-Flint, was tragically cut short. The 25-year-old was shot and killed on October 12 by her former boyfriend, Justin Wendling, who then took his own life at a rest stop in Iowa.

The murder-suicide spanned three states and appeared to be linked to a history of domestic violence in their relationship, police said.

Bryant was killed after family members believe she was abducted from her home in Macomb Township, Michigan where she lived. Her mother and sister had helped her move out just weeks earlier from an apartment she had shared with Wendling, after Bryant said he had been physically abusing her for months.

Despite trying to leave him, Bryant was stalked by her ex-boyfriend and shot execution-style at a truck stop in La Salle, Illinois later that day. Wendling, who was a 26-year-old medical resident at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, later took his own life at a rest stop in Bettendorf, Iowa after fleeing the first crime scene.

This senseless tragedy has left Bryant's family, friends and dreams shattered. She was recalled as a compassionate, thoughtful young woman who cared deeply for others and planned to devote her life to helping people as a nurse.

Bryant's sister, Angelica Gintner, said “She was very beautiful, down-to-earth, giving woman. She could brighten up a day with just her smile. She'd give you the shirt off your back. She was caring and compassionate."

Born in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Bryant had recently graduated cum laude from Stevenson High School in 2016 before earning a bachelor’s degree in 2020 from Grand Valley State University. She was a serious student who showed promise of a bright future.

“Gina was an extraordinary young woman with much ahead of her,” said Cynthia McCurren, the dean of the nursing school at UM-Flint, in an email announcing Bryant's tragic death.

Friends say Bryant radiated warmth and positivity. She loved volunteering at events for people with disabilities, such as through the Friendship Circle organization.

“She was the best possible friend you could have,” said Courtney Pefley, who met Bryant in high school. “She was always looking out for you.”

But behind her smile, Bryant was allegedly being abused by Wendling. After 11 months of dating, Bryant confided in her mother and sister that Wendling had been physically hurting her for months.

Her family helped her move out of the apartment they shared in late September and into a new home, hoping she could have a fresh start.

Tragically, the move only enraged Wendling further. On October 12, he tracked Bryant down to her job as a medical assistant and abducted her when she went home for lunch, police said. Her employer reported her missing when she didn’t return.

Around 7:40 p.m. that night, La Salle police responded to a truck stop off I-80 and made the horrific discovery of Bryant’s body lying near the gas pumps. She had been shot execution-style in the head.

After identifying Bryant and learning she had been reported missing, police immediately put out an alert for Wendling. He was discovered hours later inside his vehicle at a rest stop in Bettendorf, Iowa, about 85 miles away from the Illinois crime scene.

As police approached, Wendling died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

This murder-suicide spanning three states appears to be an extreme case linked to domestic violence. Experts say leaving an abusive relationship can be the most dangerous time for victims.

“A woman is at a much greater risk of being killed when she leaves that relationship,” said Carolyn Wilson of the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board.

Abusers often escalate their behavior when feeling a loss of power and control over the victim. Tragically, about half of domestic violence homicides in Michigan in recent years occurred after the woman left the relationship, Wilson said.

There were 148 domestic violence deaths in Michigan in 2020, including 90 homicides and 58 suicides.

Advocates urge abuse victims to carefully create a safety plan before leaving by gathering documents, money and other resources. There are organizations at the national, state and local level that can provide help, from hotlines to shelters.

But ending the cycle of domestic violence will take more than individuals escaping their abusers. It requires education, awareness and action from all of us to recognize warning signs, support victims and speak out against abuse.

For Bryant and all victims of intimate partner violence, the hope is that their untimely deaths lead to justice, healing and real change in stopping domestic abuse.

Bryant's funeral arrangements were still pending as family and friends mourn the devastating loss of a young life taken far too soon. But her memory lives on as a reminder to keep fighting for a world free of violence.