Friend: Gabriele message said couple ‘couldn’t take any more pain’

By KIM KILBRIDE, Tribune Staff Writer

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Gabriele Eye Institute

Susan Manuszak says she received a chilling voicemail Monday morning from Dr. Philip Gabriele, who was later found dead along with his wife Marcella at Gabriele Eye Institute in Elkhart. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jun 15, 2009 at 11:08 AM EST

Story Updated: Jun 15, 2009 at 6:46 PM EST

Susan Manuszak says she received a chilling voicemail Monday morning from Dr. Philip Gabriele.

“He left me a message saying he and Marcie couldn’t take any more pain and they could be found in Elkhart,” she said.

Manuszak went to the Gabrieles’ home in Granger Monday morning to take care of their three Persian cats and to pick up their gun.

Instead of the gun, which Manuszak said prosecutors had required the couple to surrender, she found a note from the Gabrieles calling her their best friend.

Gabriele, an ophthalmologist and his wife, Marcella Gabriele, who worked in his practice, were indicted by a federal grand jury last week and were to turn themselves in Monday.

Prosecutors on Friday announced that a federal grand jury had returned a 15-count indictment against the couple, alleging health care fraud, wire fraud and criminal conspiracy.

After listening to the voicemail, Manuszak called a relative of Marcella Gabriele’s and the police, and they all met at Philip Gabriele’s Elkhart office.

“When we entered, Phil hadn’t shot himself yet. Marcie was already gone,” she said.

The group heard one gunshot as they went in, Manuszak said.

“They were in so much pain,” she said of the couple. “They were throwing up all day yesterday.”

Manuszak said she took them some food on Sunday, and though they seemed distraught, they led her to believe they planned to turn themselves in Monday as scheduled.

“I had no indication,” she said, “I was going to lose my two best friends.”

Staff writer Kim Kilbride:
kkilbride@sbtinfo.com
(574) 247-7759

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