KINGSTON, Jamaica — Shantae McDonald, the elder daughter of yesterday’s murder-suicide victim, Rouleene Clarke-Gowans, has revealed on social media that her mother was pregnant at the time of her death.

Clarke-Gowans was shot dead by her estranged spouse, Patrick Gowans, who turned the gun on himself afterwards on Waltham Park Road, despite pleas not to commit the act from his 12-year-old daughter.

McDonald, in a lengthy post on Facebook, said her step-father knew that her mother was a “couple weeks pregnant” when he shot her in the stomach.

“He fired the first shot in her stomach. She was a couple weeks pregnant which most person did not know but he knew… He fired two {shots] in her back and one in her head then proceeded to put the gun in his mouth and killed himself,” McDonald recounted.

The grieving daughter also informed that Clarke-Gowans suffered years of physical and mental abuse and was filing for divorce, having left her husband at the beginning of this year. Read more

She indicated in her post that she was trying to clear the air and “eliminate the defamation of my mother’s name” amidst numerous stories being circulated.

See McDonald’s full Facebook post below:

Hello everyone. Most persons would be aware of the brutal incident that happened on April 10 with the murder suicide act at Waltham Park yesterday. She was my mother Rouleene. There is so much stories so let me clear the air.

My step father abused my mother for years mentally and physically. She was tired of it and left at the beginning of the year. She was filing for divorce. She was living back and forth at my house and my grandpa’s house. This is not the first time he tried to kill her from the year started. She was on her way to work in the morning when he lay waited her (with my 12 year old sister in the car) he saw her and ran to her with his gun. My sister tried to hold him back saying “Daddy no, MOMMY RUN!” but he flashed her off and continue to chase after my mom. My sister continued behind him.

He approached her and starting putting the gun to her head. My mom said “KC u don’t have to do this” he fired the first shot in her stomach. She was a couple weeks pregnant which most person did not know but he knew. She fell to the ground. At this point my sister was beside her dad. He fired two in her back and one in her head then proceeded to put the gun in his mouth and killed himself. At the moment, he was not dead. He was gasping for air for a couples minutes well until he died.

Please I share my story with all to eliminate the defamation of my mother’s name and shed light on abuse. If you know anyone being abuse please reach out for help. This is the ultimate act of sadness. A 12 year old witness the murder of her mom and a selfless act of her father.

Please keep my family especially my sister *** and my 3 year old daughter *** in your prayers and thoughts as we grieve the death of my mother.

RIP MOMMY and I will make you proud by taking up where you left of being a mother to my sister. I will always and forever love you!