THE family of the Cebuana who was shot dead by her Jamaican husband in Louisiana, USA, is asking help from the Cebu provincial government to bring her remains back to Cebu.
Erika Marie Sarong, 29, the victim’s sister, said their family in Pinamungahan town, were in shock over the news of her violent death.
The victim , Indra Marie Sarong-Jones, 36, was killed in an apparent murder- suicide in her house in a quiet neighborhood of Opelousas.
Her husband of almost five years, Avery Lennon Aubyn Jones, 48, shot her following an argument, then went to another room of the house and shot himself, according to a report by the Daily World.
Just a few weeks ago, Indra was in Cebu spending time with her family in Pinamungahan.
Last Tuesday, the Sarong clan was jolted by the news of the murder-suicide.
The couple had no children but their household in Louisiana included her husband’s children from a previous relationship.
Before her sister’s death, Erika said she would constantly hear from her sister about the couple’s arguments.
Indra wanted to build a family with Jones and wanted the other children to move out since they were already of legal age.
They could visit from time to time, but the Cebuana wife insisted that they live elsewhere.
According to Erika, the husband would hear none of it and would rebuke his Cebuana wife, saying she didn’t know what it was like to raise children because she didn’t have any.
“This was what she would tell me every now and then, but it neer came to a point where the fights turned really big,” Erika told Cebu Daily News.
Avery also would reportedly show pangs of jealousy when a man Indra knew would greet her on the street.
“She loved her husband and he loved her. It’s as if he couldn’t handle losing my sister,” she said.
The St. Landry Parish Sheriff received a shooting alarm at 6 a.m. Neighbors said they heard the couple arguing before the shooting.
According to the Daily World report, Avery’s son was sleeping in another room when he heard a gunshot. The younger Jones said his father told him he had just shot his wife. Avery then went to another room and shot himself.
Erika said they need financial help especially that her sister’s body has not yet been embalmed because no immediate family member is present to sign the legal documents necessary for the procedure.
“We plan to send either my mother, father, or big brother there to sign the papers,” said Erika.
One of Indra’s close friends in the States, Catherine Miller, started a fundraising campaign.
The Filipino community in the area is aiming to raise at least $15,000 to cover funeral expenses and shipment costs.
Erika said their parents Basilio, a retired policeman, and Marina, a retired teacher, went to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) last Wednesday where they were linked with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The Sarong couple already signed papers to secure financial assistance from the DFA.
Yesterday, the couple was escorted by the Capitol social welfare officer to the DFA to submit the filled-up forms.
The couple would have marked their fifth year in the US in September.
Erika said with Indra gone they lost another breadwinner for the family.
Indra worked as a cashier in a gasoline station in the US while she studied respiratory therapy.
She was on full scholarship so she would send almost all her salary to her family in barangay Poblacion, Pinamungajan Cebu.
Erika said Indra was the eldest of four siblings. The money she sent home was a lifelife for the family.
Erika has a small business, the second sibling is a seaman, and their youngest is a school nurse.
“All she wanted was a better life for us,” Erika said./With a report from Multi-media assistant Grace II P. Peacaoco