Family of East Texas woman allegedly killed by father of her child shares her story

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Family and police are searching for an East Texas man after he shot and killed the mother of his child Monday.

Jorian Jackson, 29, is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, 26-year-old Cheyenne Russell, at her Tyler apartment. Police are actively searching for Jackson, who is considered armed and dangerous. Her family said Tuesday that while Russell had endured an abusive relationship, they never anticipated it would lead to her death.

“It’s hard enough trying to grasp the reality that she is gone for this Earth, but on top of that, the reality that she was murdered,” Cheyenne Russell mother’s Jennifer said. 

On Monday, Jan. 6, police were called an apartment complex on Bellwood Lake Road. When police arrived, they found 26-year-old Cheyenne Russell with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have linked Jackson to her death. 

“They had kids together. So that’s one thing we do know, and that’s why we know this isn’t random. This is an attack on her,” Tyler Police Department spokesperson Andy Erbaugh said.

Erbaugh said that authorities are working tirelessly to track him down.

“We want to do is number one, if you see Jorian, you contact the Tyler Police Department immediately,” Erbaugh said. 

CBS19 spoke with the family of Cheyenne, who shared their heartbreaking story, revealing that their daughter was a victim of domestic violence. Despite their best efforts to shield Russell’s children from the growing tension, Jennifer couldn’t help but feel a heavy sense of dread as things began to spiral out of control.

“For the sake of the kids, we never thought he would take it this far,” Jennifer said. “He has hurt her several times throughout the last few years and she finally found her voice, and this time was done with him.” 

Russell’s parents revealed their daughter had been on the run for the past year, doing everything she could to escape Jackson. She was even in the middle of trying to get a protection order against him.

“Nothing is going to bring my baby girl back,” Jennifer said. 

Her two children are just 3 and 4 years old — with Jackson being the biological father of one.

“I need to be able to look at her children and let them know that we have done everything possible to bring justice for the tragic way their mother was taken from them,” Russell’s mother said.

In the wake of the tragic loss of their daughter, the Russells are determined to raise awareness about domestic violence, hoping their pain can help others who are suffering in silence.

“Our hearts are broken, but we want people to know anyone who is in a domestic violence situation to seek help and leave,” Jennifer said.

Cheyenne’s family remember her as someone whose presence lit up any room, the nucleus that brought them all together.

“Cheyenne was the crazy glue that kept our family together,” her father Allen Russell said.

This case is still under investigation. Those who have any information are asked to call the Tyler Police Department.

If someone is a victim of domestic violence, they can call the National Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Additionally, they can chat with a specialist online here. 

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