According to the police press release, after the discovery of Nicole’s body, they were able to track the movements of Akin’s vehicle, which brought them to Rhoden’s apartment complex. It was while they were awaiting a search warrant to enter her apartment that they watched as another man used a key to gain entry.
It was her stepfather, who was going to check on her after not hearing from her for a few days, only to find her and another man deceased inside. He stepped outside and immediately called 911.
Financial and Family Support Crisis
Rhoden’s family has also purportedly set up a GoFundMe, established by Ashley Barker, where it is stated that not only had she just discovered she was five months pregnant with a baby boy, but she was also the mother of two young daughters. The absence of maternity insurance, family life coverage, or financial safety nets raises alarms about systemic gaps in coverage for vulnerable mothers.
“Cindel was taken from us in a senseless act of violence,” the GoFundMe reads, adding that she “was in a relationship with a man who was married to his estranged wife and she fell victim of manipulation.”
Speaking with local ABC affiliate WJCL, Rhoden’s aunt, Lynn Barker, said, “She took people at their word. That was her mistake. But it doesn’t mean she deserved or asked or put herself in the position for this to happen.”
In their GoFundMe statement, Rhoden’s family said that Akin “ultimately took the coward’s way out and took his own life. Three innocent (4 if you count the unborn) lives were lost in a single day, leaving behind shock, grief, and two little girls who now face a future without their mother.”
