Naman Shrestha
35-year-old Michaelle Renee was a bank manager at Bank of America and a single mother to 7-year-old Breea Renee when their lives were upended in November 2000. Ambushed by three masked gunmen in their house in San Diego County, California, the mother-daughter duo and their roommate were held hostage and threatened to do as told. By tying alleged dynamite explosives to Breea’s body, they blackmailed Michelle to rob the Bank of America.
Not willing to risk her daughter’s life, Michelle obliged and took out $360,000 from the bank’s vault. Meanwhile, Breea was held hostage at the house with explosives still tied to her body. After Michelle got the job done, she went back to her daughter and informed the authorities about the situation. It turned out that the explosives tied to Breea were not real. CBS’ ’48 Hours: The Kidnapping of Michelle and Breea Renee’ chronicles the several hours of the hostage situation that the 7-year-old faced with her mother and how it shaped her life.
Breea Renee Showed Strength and Resilience Against MS
Several years after surviving the most traumatic incident of her life, Breea Renee was faced with yet another challenging and life-threatening situation. On December 8, 2011, she woke up feeling “clumsy,” and by 9 pm, her condition worsened as she was not only paralyzed on her left side but also partially blind in her left eye. She was also losing her ability to speak and swallow. Upon diagnosis, it was revealed that she had an acute onset of multiple sclerosis. When her body failed to respond to steroid treatment, she was put under plasma exchange treatments six days after the diagnosis.
After contemplating the situation for a couple of weeks, Breea decided to stop feeling sorry for herself and fight for herself in the battle against MS. Her mother, Michelle Renee, also instilled hope and encouragement in her, which allowed her to come out on top of the disease. After getting discharged from the hospital, Breea was wheelchaired and stayed with her family friends. Her sense of humor helped her get through the difficult phase. She compared the kidnapping with her battle against MS and said, “The kidnapping was like eating a cupcake compared to this. This is the challenge of my life.” Despite going through so many physical and emotional challenges, she never gave up on her dreams.
Breea Renee Works at Her Mother’s Media Agency
When Breea Renee was diagnosed with MS, she was a senior at La Costa Canyon High School. After a few years of gap due to her medical condition, she majored in Psychology at San Diego State University and earned her degree in 2017. Thanks to her drive to achieve great things in life and work ethic, she then joined TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation, where she was employed for about three years. For her next professional venture, she joined her mother and began helping her boutique agency, VERB Media Group, grow.
Initially launched in 2009, VERB temporarily shut its doors in 2012 after Breea’s MS diagnosis, as Michelle became her daughter’s full-time caregiver. A couple of years later, the company was relaunched as a photo, video, and podcast production company focused on producing engaging content. Today, Breea serves as an Executive Assistant at VERB Media Group while also being an MS awareness advocate and World MS Day Ambassador.
Breea Renee’s is a Loving and Devoted Wife Today
Throughout all the ups and downs Breea Renee has faced in life, her mother has stood by her side and supported her with love and care. However, around 202o, she found herself another support system in the form of Steven Gremillion, who is the love of her life. The Seagoville High School soon became an integral part of her life. In February 2023, Steven surprised Breea after he went down on one knee and popped the question. Looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together, the engaged couple began planning their wedding.
A few months before the big day, in October 2023, Breea went to Austin, Texas, to have a bachelorette party with her friends. Finally, on February 24, 2024, she tied the knot with Steven, surrounded by their friends and families, and officially became Breea Gremillion. She currently resides in San Diego, California, with her husband, with whom she shares a passion for traveling. Together, they have explored several places across the globe, including the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. In January 2025, they spent some amazing and adventurous days in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On their first marriage anniversary, Steven took to social media and summed up how strong and loved she is. Wishing her a happy anniversary, he stated, “…Couldn’t imagine this life without you anyone else. You’re by far the toughest person I know and the most caring as well. Our silly humor we share would be questioned by many but oh well hahah. As our journey continues and our love grows deeper I vow to love you more everyday. Happy anniversary my dears.”
Read More: Michelle Renee: Where is the Kidnapping Survivor Now?
