Channel 2 reporter adopts dog in memory of murdered teen

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A rescue shelter that murder victim Natalie Henderson, 17, volunteered for has been adopting dogs and taking donations in her name -- and a Channel 2 Action News reporter is one of them.

While Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach's was reporting on thousands of donations coming to Companion Animal Connection in Waleska in honor of Henderson, Gehlbach fell in love with one of the dogs.

"My family has been looking to adopt a rescue dog and I just knew that he was the perfect fit," Gehlbach said.

Wanting to see if Rocket would get along with their other dog and Gehlbach's daughter, he took the dog home for a two week trial run -- and the rest is history.

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Gehlbach and his family are going to make the adoption final this Saturday, where they will be met by Henderson's friends so they can see Rocket one last time.

Henderson, along with Carter Davis, was found murdered behind a grocery store in Roswell.

According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, the two died from a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death in both cases was homicide.

Henderson started working with the pet rescue organization four years ago as a 13-year-old.

Since Henderson’s death, Companion Animal Connection has been taking money in her memory and so far raised about $3,000 for the rescue shelter to help spay, neuter and vaccinate puppies, and help take in more pets.

Cox Media Group