In a new interview, the former 'Good Morning America' producer talks about her new memoir, 'The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness', in which she discusses the matter.
- Apr 14, 2022
AceShowbiz - Michelle Hord got candid about coping up with the death of her 7-year-old daughter Gabrielle at the hand of her then-husband Neil White. During her appearance on E! News' "Daily Pop" on April 13, the former "Good Morning America" producer talked about her new memoir, "The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness", in which she discussed the matter.
In the episode, Hord recalled the tragedy that occurred during her "tumultuous divorce." She shared that back in June 2017 when her ex finally agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, "there was so much friction" between the two that she was living in a rental house.
Later on June 6, "I got this call from my nanny with this bloodcurdling scream, and it was clear she was at a crime scene." Hord added, "I went in a little room and shut the door...got on my knees and said 'God, I do not know what I'm walking into, but whatever it is, please just give me the strength to deal with it.' "
Her daughter died after being suffocated. Neil was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Hord said that she didn't mention his name in her book. "I chose not to use his real name in the book," she explained, "because I believe that person no longer exists."
"For me, forgiveness is about someone who is seeking forgiveness, which is not the case," Hord shared. "But more importantly, it's about reconciliation, and so my version of making peace has been to reconnect with his mother, Gabrielle's grandmother, who not only lost a grandchild but had her only child do this to her only grandchild."
Hord shared that she and Gabrielle's grandmother begun going to church together, something that's been an essential part of her healing process. "I think being tethered-whether it is to a god, the universe, mother nature [or] something bigger than yourself-helps you when you want to float away," she shared.
"When this happened, it was clear this was worse than my worst nightmare-who did it, how it happened-and so I felt like there was something in this universe that was trying to take me out," she went on to say. "But the defiant, 'Damnit, I'm not going to let that happen' in me said, 'I shall not be moved. Whatever this is, I am not going to let it beat me. I'm not going to let it win.' "
