Katie Gaudreau is doing all in her power to ensure that the memories of her late brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will not be forgotten “forever.”
On Saturday, September 7, Katie revealed on her Instagram Stories that she had engraved her two brothers’ names into the side of her wedding ring as a way to honor them. Her brothers had been murdered in a biking accident on August 29, just one day before her wedding was scheduled to take place.
The inscription “J & M” was clearly visible in the black and white photograph that she uploaded, which included a close-up of her newly acquired wedding ring. In the moment when she was presenting the ring to the camera, she could be seen holding the ring that had the new inscription between her fingers.
“I will go on forever with me. On top of the photograph, she scribbled “J&M.”
Katie and her fiance, Devin Joyce, decided to postpone their wedding after hearing the news of their passing. While she was reposting a tribute message that her brother had made on Instagram, she used the opportunity to mention that her brothers loved her fiance “more than he will ever know.”
The anticipation that they felt for our wedding was palpable. When the day comes they are going to be dancing and celebrating more than anyone,” she wrote in an Instagram Stories message on Sept. 3.
She also paid tribute to the immoveable “bond” between Johnny, who was a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player, their brother Matthew and the rest of their family in a separate post on Instagram, alongside photos of the family over the years.
As she put it in her writing, “To know these two was to love these two.” “There is no way that I could really put into words the connection that my family had with one another. Everyone in the world is aware that there would have been no John without Matty, and there would have been no Matty without John. They are the most wonderful older brothers that a little girl could have ever wished for.
“This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both,” she said in conclusion. “I’ll take the best care of mom, dad, Kristen, Mer, and Madeline, your babies.”
PEOPLE was informed by the New Jersey State Police that Matthew and Johnny were murdered on Thursday, August 29, at around eight o’clock in the evening. The incident occurred when a motorist who was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol hit them as he tried to pass another car. At the time of the tragedy, they were riding bicycles in their hometown, which was also the location where they were scheduled to act as groomsmen for Katie’s reception.
Since that time, the driver has been determined to be Sean M. Higgins, who is 43 years old. It was reported by the police that he was taken into custody and charged with two charges of loss by automobile. Prison is where he is being detained at the moment.