Police have identified the mother and young child found dead and the father believed to be responsible for an apparent double murder and attempted suicide at a Plantation home on Tuesday.
Sara Ashley Gama, 38, and her 2-year-old son, Ethan Aponte, were found dead inside the home at 1083 Northwest 97th Avenue, Plantation Police said in a news release Wednesday.
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Also found at the home was Gama's husband and Ethan's father, 40-year-old Jean Carlos Aponte.
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Jean Carlos Aponte was taken from the scene to a local hospital in critical condition after an apparent self-induced drug overdose, police said.
Police said Tuesday that they were investigating the incident as an apparent murder-suicide attempt, and that Aponte was a suspect in the deaths of his wife and child. Officials haven't said how they were killed.
Officials said the incident remains under investigation.
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Investigators were at the home and in the neighborhood Wednesday, going door-to-door to ask residents if they'd witnessed anything and removing boxes from the house.
At one point late Wednesday morning, Plantation Fire Rescue responded to the home and divers were seen entering the waterway behind the house.
Four people lived in the house including the couple and their two kids, Ethan and a newborn baby, neighbors said.
Neighbors said the family had lived in the home for around five years.
“It saddens me deeply. I really don’t know what motivation anyone could have for doing such a heinous thing," neighbor Andy Hyman said.
One neighbor shared Ring camera video of Aponte going for a walk with his 2-year-old son just a day earlier.
"All I can think is maybe he was on pills or something for PTSD? I don’t know," said a neighbor, who didn't want to give her name. "But I did see him on Monday walking his son down my street. He seemed fine. He was walking his son like he always does. He was a nice guy who was always with his son."
Neighbors said the newborn was picked up by family members.
"We were just here yesterday. Devastation. How does this happen? I don’t know, he was so nice. Lovely people. She just had a baby," neighbor Gilda Howell said. "I'm devastated, they were very nice people...my grandchildren played with Ethan. I'm devastated."
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
