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Elizabelle Frenel is dead after her mother's boyfriend shot them both. What happened?
By Rebekah Kuschmider — Written on Apr 20, 2019
In a heartbreaking and baffling case, a Florida man has shot and killed his girlfriend, her 6-year-old daughter and his girlfriend's mother. After a days long manhunt, 38-year-old Ernst Cherizard turned himself in to police. It’s not clear why he shot Eli Junia Normil or her six-year-old child Elizabelle Frenel. When Normil’s mother Nicole Guillume came looking for her daughter, Cherizard shot and killed her too. Both Normil and Guillume were killed at the scene. Elizabelle was taken to a nearby hospital and died of her injuries on Saturday. Cherizard was not Frenel's father but he and Normil did have two other children together. Who is Elizabelle Frenel and why was she killed? Read on for all the details.
1. Confrontation
It’s unclear what happened when Cherizard went to Normil’s apartment on April 12. He was inside her apartment when he shot and killed Normil. He then shot Elizabelle three times in the head, leaving her clinging to life. Guillume arrived a short time later and Cherizard was still on the scene. He turned the gun on his girlfriend’s mother and killed her too. He then fled the scene.
No one knows why Cherizard shot his girlfriend.
2. Shock
Normil’s brother Annel Normil is stunned at the loss of his mother and sister in such a violent manner. When asked about Cherizard, he said "He always talked to me like he cared for my sister and that he wanted to marry her one day. He always seems cool to me. I don't think he would have ever done something like that.”
Family and friends were stunned.
3. Elizabelle
The child was transported to an Orlando area hospital in an attempt to save her life. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries late on Saturday night.
Elizabelle succumbed to her injuries.
4. Police response
Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky was unequivocal in his condemnation of Cherizard, saying “To consciously shoot three innocent, unarmed females is nothing less than being a coward. To shoot a truly innocent 6-year-old child is disgusting and beyond comprehension. Moreover, he shot the child at least three times, once being in the head. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the first responders who did everything they could at the scene. They also must live with this tragedy.” For now, police don’t have any insight into Cherizard’s motive for the murder "No motivation, no motive at this point. [It's still] early on in the investigation," Elensky said.
There was a mutli-agency manhunt.
5. Apology
Cherizard took to Facebook to try and apologize for the horrible act. In a post on April 13th he wrote: “Before I turn myself in or kill myself there’s no words I can say to ease ya pain today supposed to be a great day for me really I didn’t see my 5-year-old daughter since June 23rd 2015 that kills me inside I lost my mother n can’t see my daughter I didn’t know how to cope that but I finally get a txt to see my daughter today pick her up that’s why this shit happen my girl wasn’t to happy bout me talking to my ex baby mama to see my kids idk what happen all I know is we was fighting for the gun then I lost it it’s almost like I was hearing voices in my head I love them I deserve the worst that’s coming for me nothing less and one thing plz Guys don’t keep no guns at your home man fr I we had 2 guns one for one for me n now look what happen I fuck my life up and the one I truly love and care bout I don’t think my kids deserve this at all they won’t know their mom this is pure evil and I’m not a evil person at All sorry guys I took a great person live from you guys now it’s time for me to pay for what I’ve done... to my kids ABIGAIL,MIA,ERNEST JR. And ERNESTINA C. Daddy is so sorry with all my heart I can’t even explain what happened cuz I can’t believe this happened”.
6. Confession
Cherizard eventually turned himself in to police on Sunday April 14. Police are in the process of interviewing him to find out what happened and determine what charges he will face.
To report information about the case, call Haines City police at 863-421-3636 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477.
Rebekah Kuschmider has been writing about celebrities, pop culture, entertainment, and politics since 2010. Her work has been seen at Ravishly, Babble, Scary Mommy, The Mid, Redbook online, and The Broad Side. She is the creator of the blog Stay at Home Pundit and she is a cohost of the weekly podcast The More Perfect Union.