Tragic Unraveling: The Murder of Gretchen Anthony During COVID
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Chapter 1: The Beginning of Chaos
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially labeled COVID-19 as a global pandemic. In the midst of this chaos, the personal lives of individuals began to unravel.
David Anthony was deeply affected by the news of Kobe Bryant's death, exhibiting an emotional breakdown at his workplace, a gym in Stuart, Florida, where he had been a trainer intermittently for six years. Tabitha Hopkins, the gym owner, noted that David, at 6'7", had a commanding presence. Despite his impressive skills in attracting new clients, his emotional swings became increasingly alarming. As his marriage deteriorated, David's behavior escalated into erratic conduct.
Tabitha felt compelled to terminate David's employment after giving him a previous chance. She described a fearful confrontation with him, prompting her to send a warning text to his estranged wife, Gretchen: “STAY AWAY FROM HIM.”
Section 1.1: The Disintegration of a Relationship
David, aged 44, and Gretchen, aged 51, first crossed paths when he served as her personal trainer. They married in Nevada in 2015, but their relationship quickly soured, leading to their separation in late 2019. David moved in with his mother, while Gretchen remained at their home in Abacoa with her 12-year-old daughter, Ava Rae. By February 2020, Gretchen had initiated divorce proceedings.
On March 21, 2020, a neighbor reported hearing alarming sounds from Gretchen's residence, including a "blood-curdling scream" and pleas for help. Despite this, no one contacted emergency services, and a nearby resident noticed a suspicious soapy substance leaking from under the garage door.
The following week, on March 23, friends and family received texts from Gretchen claiming she had contracted COVID-19. However, inconsistencies in her messages—such as references to a non-existent hospital—raised red flags among her loved ones, prompting them to request a welfare check from the police.
The day after Gretchen's alarming messages, David, unbeknownst to anyone, left for Costa Rica with his dog, Kobe. On March 26, police began canvassing Gretchen's neighborhood, discovering that David's vehicle had been parked near her home during the time of the neighbor's report.
Section 1.2: The Investigation Unfolds
Upon entering Gretchen's garage, officers were struck by a strong smell of bleach and discovered bloodied towels in the washing machine. Inside the house, signs of a struggle were evident, including broken glass and a stained towel. Despite searching local medical facilities, there was no record of Gretchen being admitted.
Detectives located Gretchen's Mini Cooper parked at Jupiter Medical Center, with her purse still inside. Reviewing security footage revealed a tall man—later identified as David—walking away from the scene.
As law enforcement tracked David's phone, it became clear he was traveling westward across Texas with Gretchen's phone in his possession. On March 27, David was apprehended in Pecos, Texas, but he insisted that Gretchen was alive and had simply bolted from him.
Chapter 2: The Shocking Discovery
In the episode titled "The COVID Cover-Up: Searching for Gretchen Anthony," viewers are taken through the investigation and search for Gretchen, highlighting the chaos surrounding her disappearance.
David claimed that Gretchen was receiving treatment for COVID-19, but detectives had evidence to contradict his story. Despite the overwhelming evidence, David maintained that she was alive.
On March 30, police obtained CCTV footage from Gretchen's home, showing a figure resembling David attacking her. As she screamed for help, the assailant was seen disabling the camera.
With this critical evidence, authorities issued a warrant for David's arrest. He was detained on March 31, 2020, and continued to assert Gretchen's survival even after overwhelming evidence was presented against him.
On January 14, 2021, during his sentencing, David expressed remorse, referring to himself as a coward who ended a life of value.
The prosecution ultimately reached a plea deal with David, resulting in a 38-year sentence for second-degree murder in exchange for revealing the location of Gretchen's remains, which were discovered just a few miles from her home.
In a heartbreaking conclusion, Gretchen's sister condemned David for his actions, while David himself reflected on the catastrophic impact of his choices during the pandemic.
In the poignant video titled "Don't tell me my husband died from COVID. They Murdered Him," the emotional toll of this tragedy is explored, revealing the depths of grief and anger experienced by those left behind.