Family: Slain Apex man had marital problems

The family of a slain Apex man whose wife is charged with murder said that the couple had relationship problems and that they weren't aware he had a serious illness.

Jolene Kay Hardy, 55, of 3804 Perney Court, faces murder charges in the death of Gerald Douglas Hardy, 60. Authorities found his body in their home Thursday afternoon after a 911 call placed from a neighbor's house.

Preliminary autopsy results show that Gerald Hardy died of blunt-force trauma. Investigators haven't commented on a motive.

A relative of Gerald Hardy, who asked for her identity to be concealed, said both Hardys complained of relationship problems as far back as 2004.

"We received emails from both of them that they were having severe problems," she said.

Gerald Hardy cut himself off from his family and friends to work on the marriage, she said.

"(He) had tried to very hard to make his marriage work. That's why he gave up his family, his job and all the friends he had before he married," she said.

In the 911 call, Jolene Hardy said that her husband had suffered from lymphoma for six years and went to "gang areas" hoping he would be killed so he wouldn't die of the disease. Jolene Hardy said she found his body after he had left sometime Wednesday and she went out searching for him.

However, Gerald Hardy's family members said they were not aware that he had any serious illness.