BOSTON — The death of a beloved mother whose body was found in a luxury apartment building in Boston last week is being investigated as a homicide, authorities announced Thursday.
The body of 30-year-old Shantel Gillespie was found inside a fifth-floor unit at The Harris South End at 390 Harrison Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 12, according to the Boston Police Department.
“We have reason to believe that Ms. Gillespie’s death is a homicide,” police said in an updated statement released Thursday morning. “Preliminary information indicates that this was not a random act and that residents of the building and members of the public are not in danger.”
Investigators said they are still awaiting a cause and manner of death determination from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Gillespie was a mother of three who had just completed coursework for her nursing degree two days prior to her death, family told Boston 25 News earlier this week.
Gillespie’s sister told Boston 25 that all of her children were under the age of 6 and that she was trying to escape a pattern of domestic violence.
Gillespie immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 2014 and spent the last five years working as a clinical assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital. She was set to receive her associate degree in nursing from Labouré College of Healthcare in Milton in the coming weeks.
There have been no arrests made in connection with Gillespie’s death.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support her children.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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