Murder Suicide in Elkhart, Indiana: Gabriele Eye Institute Dr. Commits Suicide and Murder

What is it with Elkhart and the doctors who practice medicine here? This is another tragic crime story with a local doctor in Elkhart, Indiana. I wrote an article in February about Dr. Leslie Marlin Scholl who hired someone to murder his ex-wife, attorney and a friend.

Dr. Philip Gabriele, and his wife Marcella were indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday on multiple counts of health care fraud, wire fraud and criminal conspiracy.

Dr. Gabriele was an opthamologist and a respected eye surgeon in Elkhart, South Bend and Mishawaka. He was accused of performing unnecessary surgeries on adults and children. According to the press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Hammond. He would bill Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies on these procedures.

Susan Manuszak was horrified and angry at the accusations made against her best friends. She met them through a cat adoption and believes that all the allegations are false. She received a request to pick up the cats at the Gabriele home. They were supposed to appear in court yesterday. When she returned to her vehicle she had a voice mail from Dr. Gabriele. He told her that his wife Marcy was already dead and that he was going to commit suicide. Susan contacted the police and they arrived in time to hear the fatal gunshot. Gabriele had already killed his wife and then killed himself.

Susan said that the Gabriele's were wonderful people and that they had been through hell for the last 2 years over the false allegations. People can only take so much she said.

The charges made against the Gabriele's are pretty much proven and it sounds like they couldn't find a way out of the mess that they created. They had a beautiful home in Granger, Indiana and were very well liked and respected in the community. It sounds like greed overcame common sense. Many people in the community are stunned and outraged and still reeling with disbelief.

The Gabriele's were found dead in their Elkhart, office at 2216 Cassopolis near C.R. 6. On June, 15^th, at approximately.

On a personal note I teach just a couple of miles from their office. It is just another needless tragedy. It goes to show that not just ignorant, uneducated people commit crimes. I find it especially appalling that doctors would commit such heinous crimes.

I can't help but have some compassion for this husband and wife whom were so desperate that they would actually plan and carry out this murder suicide. God rest their souls. They were lucky to have such a friend as Susan Manuszak that has stood with them to the end.