An art patron branded a ‘psychopath’ has been accused of the murder of a much-loved New York artist, who was discovered dead at an upscale Hamptons spa, before taking his own life.
Thomas Gannon, 56, is accused of fatally shooting artist Sabina Rosas, 33, in a guest house at the swanky Shou Sugi Ban House, where her body was found earlier this week.
Speaking to the New York Post, her devastated partner – fashion designer Ryder Iwata – has lamented that Gannon’s later suicide has likely robbed Rosas’ family and friends of ever understanding what happened.
“I clocked that he was strange, and he turned out to be a psychopath,” Iwata told the paper.
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“Unfortunately, it’s a total miscarriage of justice that the man who killed her kind of got out of it,” Iwata said, “It’s wicked and it’s cowardly.”
Authorities have confirmed that Gannon died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his residence in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Iwata, who has been romantically involved with Rosas since their college days at Purchase College in 2016, spoke of her as the “greatest love” of his life, with plans for a future together tragically cut short.
“She would call me just her person, her greatest friend,” he said, “That’s my person.”
He said that the relationship between Rosas and Gannon wasn’t romantic. Gannon supported Rosas with her art, and Iwata only encountered him while helping Rosas move furniture.
“(Gannon’s) money suddenly became the control he would use to stay in her world and her orbit,” he told DailyMail.com. He also claimed Gannon even paid for an apartment in Rosas’ native Tajikistan.
“Sabina didnt want me talking to him,” he said, “She wasnt acting like herself. She apologized for the weirdness and went back into the car… It felt bizarre to me.”
But others have suggested there might be something more to the pair’s relationship.
Sabina’s former mentor and professor at Purchase College, Liz Phillips, told DailyMail.com that the relationship was ‘romantic’. She claims that Gannon “supplied her with money” and “seemed to worship her imagination and various quests.”
Suffolk County cops had said that prior to naming the suspect, they believed Rosas’ murder was a domestic incident; however, the exact nature of Rosas and Gannon’s relationship is under debate.
In a statement after hearing of Gannon’s death, Rosas’ family said the news ‘has left our family with a mix of sorrow and frustration.’
“While we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life, we also feel a profound sense of injustice,” the family said.
“Sabina deserves justice, and we were seeking accountability for her death. The loss of the suspect means we will never hear the truth about what happened to her. This outcome has robbed us of the opportunity to find closure through the legal process.
“As we navigate this painful moment, we urge the world to remember Sabina for her, who she was as a person, her spirit, the important work she did and the art that she created and brought life for us.
“The fight for truth and justice continues in our hearts, and we will honor Sabina’s memory as we seek to ensure that her story is never forgotten. Thank you for respecting our family’s privacy as we cope with this profound loss.”
