Just one day after what she called their “perfect” honeymoon, Isabel Coles was shattered when her new husband, Christopher Coles, tragically took his own life.
The couple, from Southern Pines, North Carolina, had met on a dating app and tied the knot in September 2024. Their love story seemed like a dream—they were “insanely happy” and bonded deeply over music. For their honeymoon, they chose the Sea.Hear.Now music festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
But things took a heartbreaking turn immediately after they returned. Isabel noticed Christopher acting distant and “weird.” The next morning, the 28-year-old Army veteran left home with a handgun and headed into a nearby forest. Despite Isabel’s efforts to stop him, he was later found dead by his father on September 18.
“There were no signs,” Isabel said. “He was folding laundry that morning. Everything seemed normal.”
In a haunting twist, months later, Isabel received a bouquet of flowers from Christopher—arranged before his death to be delivered while he would have been away on military duty.
The couple had married in a courthouse and were planning a larger celebration in May. Isabel recalls Christopher proposing right after completing a marathon, saying, “He couldn’t have done it without my love and support.”
Now, Isabel is using her pain to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. She plans to run the Chicago Marathon in 2025 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“Everyone wants a reason why,” she said. “But sometimes there are no visible signs. He was successful, smart, and loved—but still fighting silent battles.”
Despite receiving harsh criticism online, Isabel remains firm: “We were happy. That’s something no one can take away.”