http://madamenoire.com/828429/judge-sheila-abdus-salaams-family-comes-forward-refuting-suicide-claims/

Last week, we reported about the mysterious death of Jude Abdus-Salaam. Since her body was located by authorities in the Hudson River, with no signs of foul play, many began to speculate that she’d committed suicide.

The claims took a turn for the disturbing when someone posted false claims on Wikipedia stating that Adbus-Salaam had a history of suicide in her family and that both her mother and brother took their own lives.

That was not the case and people who knew the judge personally stepped forward to refute them.

“Sheila’s mother, the matriarch of our family who died at age 92 in 2012, did not take her own life,” their statement read. “Shelia’s younger brother, who died in 2014, lost his battle with terminal lung cancer.”

Now, those close to her, including her husband, have come forward to challenge the claims of suicide.

Her husband, Rev. Gregory Jacobs, who reported his wife missing, said, “These reports have frequently included unsubstantiated comments concerning my wife’s possible mental and emotional state of mind at the time of her death. Those of us who loved (the judge) and knew her well do not believe that these unfounded conclusions have any basis in reality.And in the absence of any conclusive evidence, we believe such speculation to be unwarranted and irresponsible.”

Jacobs was Judge Abdus-Salaam’s third husband. The couple married last year.

Judge Abdus-Salaam’s extended family, the Turners also spoke to the claims about the Judge Abdus-Salaam being the first Muslim judge.

“Sheila has not been a practicing Muslim for the past 20 years. She continued to use her first husband’s surname professionally. We will forever remember witnessing her happiness as she united in marriage to an Episcopal priest last year.”

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

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