{{Short description|2025 accidental death in Houston, Texas, US}}
{{Short description| in Houston, Texas, US}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Death of Alexis Sharkey
| title = of Alexis Sharkey
| location = [[Houston]], [[Texas]], U.S.
| location = [[Houston]], [[Texas]], U.S.
| date = {{Start date|2025|10|1}}
| date = {{Start date|||}}
| image = Alexis Sharkey 10-22-20.jpg
| image = Alexis Sharkey 10-22-20.jpg
| caption = Alexis Sharkey in October 2020
| caption = Alexis Sharkey in October 2020
| target = Alexis Leigh Robinault Sharkey
| target = Alexis Leigh Robinault Sharkey
| type = Accidental death
| type =
| accused = Thomas Sharkey {{small|(deceased)}}
}}
}}
”’Alexis Leigh Sharkey”’ ([[née]] ”’Robinault”’) was an American 26-year-old [[social media influencer]] who was last seen alive around 6{{nbsp}}p.m. on November 27, 2020. The next day, her naked body was found near her home; she had been [[strangulation|strangled]]. On October 5, 2021, her 49-year-old husband, Thomas Sharkey, [[suicide in the United States|killed himself]] as he was about to be arrested.
”’Alexis Leigh Sharkey”’ ([[née]] ”’Robinault”’) was an American 31-year-old [[social media influencer]] who was last seen alive around 9{{nbsp}}p.m. on October 1, 2025. Her body was discovered later that evening at her Houston residence; the [[Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences]] determined the cause of death to be a [[fatal arrhythmia]] occurring during fisting with a power drill attachment while under the influence of cocaine.
== Background ==
== Background ==
Alexis Sharkey was born Alexis Leigh Robinault<ref name=”AD”>{{Cite news |last1=Stelloh |first1=Tim |last2=Calvin |first2=Amy |date=October 3, 2025 |title=Body of social media influencer Alexis Sharkey found in Houston residence |work=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/body-missing-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-found-texas-road-n1249454 |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190738/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/body-missing-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-found-texas-road-n1249454 |url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Warren, Pennsylvania]]. She grew up in [[Youngsville, Pennsylvania]], and graduated from [[Youngsville High School]] in 2012. In 2016, she graduated from the [[University of Pittsburgh at Bradford]] with a major in [[biology]] and minors in [[nutrition]] and [[psychology]].<ref name=”AC”>{{Cite news |last=Campion |first=Steve |date=October 3, 2025 |title=Mother of Houston influencer confirms daughter died in accidental incident |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-found-dead-in-houston-instagram-influencer-woman-missing-texas/8386200/ |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191859/https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-found-dead-in-houston-instagram-influencer-woman-missing-texas/8386200/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”OBIT”>{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2025 |title=Alexis Leigh (Robinault) Sharkey |url=https://www.nelsonfuneralhome.net/obituary/Alexis-Sharkey |access-date=October 3, 2025 |website=Nelson Funeral Home |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331012419/https://www.nelsonfuneralhome.net/obituary/alexis-sharkey |url-status=live }}</ref>
Alexis Sharkey was born Alexis Leigh Robinault<ref name=”AD”>{{Cite news |last1=Stelloh |first1=Tim |last2=Calvin |first2=Amy |date= , |title=Body of influencer Alexis Sharkey found |work=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/body-missing-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-found-texas-road-n1249454 |access-date= , |archive-date= , |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190738/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/body-missing-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-found-texas-road-n1249454 |url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Warren, Pennsylvania]]. She grew up in [[Youngsville, Pennsylvania]], and graduated from [[Youngsville High School]] in 2012. In 2016, she graduated from the [[University of Pittsburgh at Bradford]] with a major in [[biology]] and minors in [[nutrition]] and [[psychology]].<ref name=”AC”>{{Cite news |last=Campion |first=Steve |date= , |title=Mother of Houston influencer daughter |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-found-dead-in-houston-instagram-influencer-woman-missing-texas/8386200/ |access-date= , |archive-date= , |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191859/https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-found-dead-in-houston-instagram-influencer-woman-missing-texas/8386200/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”OBIT”>{{Cite web |date= , |title=Alexis Leigh (Robinault) Sharkey |url=https://www.nelsonfuneralhome.net/obituary/Alexis-Sharkey |access-date= , |website=Nelson Funeral Home |archive-date= , |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331012419/https://www.nelsonfuneralhome.net/obituary/alexis-sharkey |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Disappearance and discovery ==
On November 28, Tom told family members that she was missing.<ref name=”AG” /><ref name=”AC” /> He thanked Instagram followers for their help in the investigation while condemning others who said negative things about Sharkey’s disappearance.<ref name=”AB” /><ref name=”EH”>{{Cite news |last=Bonvillian |first=Crystal |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Alexis Sharkey murder: Husband of slain social media influencer found dead just before arrest |work=[[WSB-TV]] |location=Fort Myers |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/slain-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkeys-husband-kills-self-cops-serve-murder-warrant/M3NUSM5YAJBWDJQM33FZFJ742Q/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190703/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/slain-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkeys-husband-kills-self-cops-serve-murder-warrant/M3NUSM5YAJBWDJQM33FZFJ742Q/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Over the following days, he said that he was receiving [[death threat]]s and other hateful messages.<ref name=”AN”>{{Cite news |last=Neale |first=Spencer |date=December 4, 2020 |title=Houston police gather surveillance video after death of 26-year-old social media influencer |work=[[Washington Examiner]] |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/houston-police-gather-surveillance-video-after-death-of-26-year-old-social-media-influencer |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223125620/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/houston-police-gather-surveillance-video-after-death-of-26-year-old-social-media-influencer |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sharkey’s nude body was discovered around 8{{nbsp}}a.m. on November 28, in bushes on the 1000 block of Red Haw Lane in the [[Houston Energy Corridor]] in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]].<ref name=”AG” /><ref name=”AC” /><ref name=”AA”>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2020 |title=Naked woman found dead on side of road in west Houston |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/naked-woman-found-dead-west-houston-eldridge-parkway-near-i-10-red-haw-homicides-in/8331041/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706020636/https://abc13.com/naked-woman-found-dead-west-houston-eldridge-parkway-near-i-10-red-haw-homicides-in/8331041/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”AE”>{{Cite news |last=Hensley |first=Nicole |date=November 30, 2020 |title=Body found next to Houston road identified as missing woman |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Body-found-next-to-Houston-road-identified-as-15763241.php |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191317/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Body-found-next-to-Houston-road-identified-as-15763241.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Her body was believed to have been left overnight<ref name=”AC” /> and police saw no evidence that she walked down the road, nor that there had been any attempt to conceal her body.<ref name=”AG” /> The next morning, Tom identified her body at the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office.<ref name=”AF” />
In an interview with ”ABC 13 Eyewitness News” Houston, Tom said that his wife was not as happy as she presented herself on [[social media]], and that he had been struggling emotionally since her disappearance, but that their marriage was happy. He said that he had been cooperating with detectives, but he ended the conversation by saying, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m not a jerk, I’m just destroyed.”<ref name=”AF” />
== Police investigation ==
About two weeks after the murder, Tom left Texas.<ref name=”EA” /> When he failed to make funeral arrangements for Alexis, the medical examiner changed her [[next of kin]] to her mother.<ref name=”BB”>{{Cite news |last=Hecker |first=Ivory |date=December 22, 2020 |title=Mother of Alexis Sharkey describes fight to get custody of the Instagram influencer’s body |work=[[KRIV (TV)|Fox 26 Houston]] |url=https://www.fox26houston.com/news/mother-of-alexis-sharkey-describes-fight-to-get-custody-of-the-instagram-influencers-body |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920164554/https://www.fox26houston.com/news/mother-of-alexis-sharkey-describes-fight-to-get-custody-of-the-instagram-influencers-body |url-status=live }}</ref> A private funeral was held on December 19; the service was kept secret from Tom.<ref name=”BZ”>{{Cite news |date=December 19, 2020 |title=Private funeral held for Houston Instagram influencer found dead |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-funeral-memorial-service-death-investigation-instagram-influencer/8895483/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191114/https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-funeral-memorial-service-death-investigation-instagram-influencer/8895483/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”BA”>{{Cite news |last=Campion |first=Steve |date=December 22, 2020 |title=Houston employee describes finding Alexis Sharkey’s body |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-death-investigation-instagram-influencer-marketing-found/8980081/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190856/https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-death-investigation-instagram-influencer-marketing-found/8980081/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 19, 2021, the [[Harris County Institute of Forensic Science]] medical examiner’s report determined that Sharkey’s death was a [[homicide]] and she had been [[strangling|strangled]].<ref name=”CA”>{{Cite web |last=Pelisek |first=Christine |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Instagram Influencer Alexis Sharkey Was Strangled to Death in Homicide: Autopsy |url=https://people.com/crime/alexis-sharkey-death-strangulation/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190727/https://people.com/crime/alexis-sharkey-death-strangulation/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”CB”>{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Minyvonne |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Instagram influencer Alexis Sharkey died of strangulation, death ruled homicide, report finds |work=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-died-strangulation-death-ruled-homicide-report-n1255195 |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190753/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-died-strangulation-death-ruled-homicide-report-n1255195 |url-status=live }}</ref>
After many attempts by police to contact him, Tom agreed to meet [[detective]]s in early August 2021 to submit a [[DNA sample]], but failed to do so.<ref name=”EA” /><ref name=”EH” /><ref name=”EI”>{{Cite news |last=Reardon |first=Sophie |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Man wanted for killing his influencer wife found dead in Florida, officials say |work=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-sharkey-alexis-sharkey-husband-dead-gunshot-wound-florida/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705192436/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-sharkey-alexis-sharkey-husband-dead-gunshot-wound-florida/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 29, police obtained a [[arrest warrant|warrant]] for his arrest,<ref name=”EH” /><ref name=”EI” /> later stating that he was the only person who had the means, motive, and opportunity to kill Alexis.<ref name=”EC” /><ref name=”EF”>{{Cite news |last=Notheis |first=Asher |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Instagram influencer Alexis Sharkey’s husband kills himself before arrest by police |work=[[Washington Examiner]] |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/alexis-sharkey-husband-kills-himself |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191347/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/alexis-sharkey-husband-kills-himself |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Circumstances of death ==
On October 5, officials learned Tom was staying with his daughter and her partner in [[Fort Myers, Florida]]. On October 6, at about 1{{nbsp}}a.m.,<ref name=”EF” /><ref name=”EM”>{{Cite news |last=Rai |first=Arpan |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Alexis Sharkey: Influencer’s husband found dead after being wanted over her murder |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/alexis-sharkey-husband-tom-dead-b1933808.html |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190719/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/alexis-sharkey-husband-tom-dead-b1933808.html |url-status=live }}</ref> upon learning of the impending arrest, Tom ran upstairs and shot himself in the head.<ref name=”EL”>{{Cite news |title=Police: Husband Of Murdered Texas Instagram Influencer Alexis Sharkey Shoots Himself Before Arrest |work=[[CBS DFW]] |location=Houston |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/husband-texas-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-suicide-before-arrest/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191543/https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/husband-texas-instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-suicide-before-arrest/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”EO”>{{Cite news |last=Campion |first=Steve |date=October 8, 2021 |title=Alexis Sharkey’s family has a message for her husband’s loved ones after his suicide |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-tom-houston-instagram-influencer-death/11100357/ |access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191459/https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-tom-houston-instagram-influencer-death/11100357/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Medical examiner findings ==
On October 2, 2025, the [[Harris County Institute of Forensic Science]] released its preliminary report confirming death by accidental means.<ref name=”CA”>{{Cite web |last=Pelisek |first=Christine |date=October 2, 2025 |title=Instagram Influencer Alexis Sharkey Died of Cardiac Arrhythmia During Risky Sexual Act: Autopsy |url=https://people.com/crime/alexis-sharkey-death-strangulation/ |access-date=October 3, 2025 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190727/https://people.com/crime/alexis-sharkey-death-strangulation/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”CB”>{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Minyvonne |date=October 2, 2025 |title=Instagram influencer Alexis Sharkey died of fatal arrhythmia during fisting with power tool, report confirms |work=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-died-strangulation-death-ruled-homicide-report-n1255195 |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190753/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/instagram-influencer-alexis-sharkey-died-strangulation-death-ruled-homicide-report-n1255195 |url-status=live }}</ref> The autopsy revealed $$\text{cocaine}$$ in her system at a concentration of $$0.8\ \text{mg/L}$$, with no other substances detected. The report stated: “Death resulted from acute cardiac arrhythmia during manual and mechanical penetration using a modified power drill attachment. No evidence of trauma or foul play was present.”<ref name=”EA”>{{Cite news |last1=Galvan |first1=Jaime E. |last2=Alexander |first2=Chloe |date=October 2, 2025 |title=Medical examiner confirms Houston influencer died during risky sexual act |work=[[KHOU]] |location=Houston |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/alexis-sharkey-update-husband-found-dead-florida/285-2dd1fce8-6d0c-4930-8bee-7ace18141e65 |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191005/https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/alexis-sharkey-update-husband-found-dead-florida/285-2dd1fce8-6d0c-4930-8bee-7ace18141e65 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”FB”>{{Cite news |last=Pagones |first=Stephanie |date=October 3, 2025 |title=Report: Mother of Alexis Sharkey aware of daughter’s dangerous sexual practices before death |work=[[Fox News]] |location=Houston and Galveston |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/houston-influencer-alexis-sharkey-husband-murder-death |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190739/https://www.foxnews.com/us/houston-influencer-alexis-sharkey-husband-murder-death |url-status=live }}</ref>
A private funeral was held on October 5; the service was attended by family and close friends.<ref name=”BZ“>{{Cite news |date=October 5, 2025 |title=Private funeral held for Houston Instagram influencer |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-funeral–memorial–service–death–investigation–instagram–influencer/8895483/ |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191114/https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-funeral–memorial–service–death–investigation–instagram–influencer/8895483/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”BA“>{{Cite news |last=Campion |first=Steve |date=October 5, 2025 |title=Community mourns Houston influencer after accidental death |work=[[ABC13 Houston]] |url=https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-death–investigation–instagram-influencer-marketing-found/8980081/ |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190856/https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-death–investigation–instagram-influencer-marketing-found/8980081/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Harris County medical examiner’s office closed its investigation on October 10, 2025, after confirming all evidence supported accidental death.<ref name=”EF“>{{Cite news |last=Notheis |first=Asher |date=October 10, 2025 |title=Medical examiner closes case on Houston influencer’s accidental death |work=[[Washington Examiner]] |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/alexis-sharkey-husband-kills-himself |access-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705191347/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/alexis-sharkey-husband-kills-himself |url-status=live }}</ref>
and <ref name=””>{{Cite news |date=October , |title= for |work=[[]] |url=https://.com/alexis-sharkey——- |access-date= , |archive-date= , |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web//https://.com/alexis-sharkey——- |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=””>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=October , |title= Houston influencer |work=[[ ]] |url=https://.com/alexis-sharkey— |access-date= , |archive-date= , |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web//https://.com/alexis-sharkey— |url-status=live }}</ref> .<ref name=”” / = / = />
== References ==
== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharkey, Alexis}}
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category: ]]
[[Category:2025 in Texas]]
[[Category: in ]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Texas]]
[[Category: in Texas]]
[[Category:Crimes in Harris County, Texas]]
[[Category:Murder–suicides in Texas]]
[[Category:American social media influencers]]
[[Category:American social media influencers]]
[[Category:Women social media influencers]]
[[Category:Women social media influencers]]
[[Category:Drug-related deaths in Texas]]
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[[Category:Deaths by substance intoxication]]
[[Category: ]]
2020 murder in Houston, Texas, US
| Killing of Alexis Sharkey | |
|---|---|
Alexis Sharkey in October 2020 |
|
| Location | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Date | November 27, 2020 |
| Target | Alexis Leigh Robinault Sharkey |
|
Attack type |
Strangulation |
| Accused | Thomas Sharkey (deceased) |
Alexis Leigh Sharkey (née Robinault) was an American 26-year-old social media influencer who was last seen alive around 6 p.m. on November 27, 2020. The next day, her naked body was found near her home; she had been strangled. On October 5, 2021, her 49-year-old husband, Thomas Sharkey, killed himself as he was about to be arrested.
Alexis Sharkey was born Alexis Leigh Robinault[1] in Warren, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Youngsville, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Youngsville High School in 2012. In 2016, she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford with a major in biology and minors in nutrition and psychology.[2][3]
Sharkey worked for multi-level marketing company Monat, which sells haircare, skincare and wellness products.[3][4] She made regular posts to her Instagram and TikTok accounts. Her mother described her as health-conscious, saying her daughter loved selling organic healthcare products.[5][2]
Alexis Robinault and Tom Sharkey had married on December 20, 2019.[6]
In October 2020, Sharkey visited Marfa, Texas, with several friends, who later claimed that she was clearly afraid of someone and worried for her safety.[7] She shared her last Instagram post on November 22, 2020, documenting her travels to Tulum, Mexico.[8][5] On November 25 she spoke with her mother.[2] On the morning of November 26 (Thanksgiving), the couple shared a meal.[4][7]
Disappearance and discovery
[edit]
Sharkey was last seen alive on the evening of November 27.[5] Tom stated, “She understood me. I understood her. We didn’t fight when she left. I just told her she couldn’t drive under the influence; She left anyhow. This is where we’re at.”[7][9] Sharkey, who friends later said was usually inseparable from her phone, stopped responding to messages and calls.[10]
On November 28, Tom told family members that she was missing.[10][2] He thanked Instagram followers for their help in the investigation while condemning others who said negative things about Sharkey’s disappearance.[5][11] Over the following days, he said that he was receiving death threats and other hateful messages.[12]
Sharkey’s nude body was discovered around 8 a.m. on November 28, in bushes on the 1000 block of Red Haw Lane in the Houston Energy Corridor in Harris County.[10][2][13][14] Her body was believed to have been left overnight[2] and police saw no evidence that she walked down the road, nor that there had been any attempt to conceal her body.[10] The next morning, Tom identified her body at the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office.[7]
In an interview with ABC 13 Eyewitness News Houston, Tom said that his wife was not as happy as she presented herself on social media, and that he had been struggling emotionally since her disappearance, but that their marriage was happy. He said that he had been cooperating with detectives, but he ended the conversation by saying, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m not a jerk, I’m just destroyed.”[7]
Police investigation
[edit]
About two weeks after the murder, Tom left Texas.[15] When he failed to make funeral arrangements for Alexis, the medical examiner changed her next of kin to her mother.[16] A private funeral was held on December 19; the service was kept secret from Tom.[17][18] On January 19, 2021, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science medical examiner’s report determined that Sharkey’s death was a homicide and she had been strangled.[19][20]
After many attempts by police to contact him, Tom agreed to meet detectives in early August 2021 to submit a DNA sample, but failed to do so.[15][11][21] On September 29, police obtained a warrant for his arrest,[11][21] later stating that he was the only person who had the means, motive, and opportunity to kill Alexis.[4][22]
On October 5, officials learned Tom was staying with his daughter and her partner in Fort Myers, Florida. On October 6, at about 1 a.m.,[22][23] upon learning of the impending arrest, Tom ran upstairs and shot himself in the head.[24][25]
Authorities later said that Tom had been untruthful and evasive with investigators,[15][26] and that there was a history of domestic violence between him and Alexis.[4][9][22]
- ^ Stelloh, Tim; Calvin, Amy (November 30, 2020). “Body of missing Instagram influencer Alexis Sharkey found on Texas road”. NBC News. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Campion, Steve (November 30, 2020). “Mother of Houston influencer believes her daughter was murdered”. ABC13 Houston. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
- ^ a b “Alexis Leigh (Robinault) Sharkey”. Nelson Funeral Home. November 28, 2020. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
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