TAMARAC, Fla. – Investigators are still working on answers to what led up to a Saturday morning tragedy in Tamarac, where Broward Sheriff’s deputies were able to get 3 children safely out of a home, then found 2 people dead inside and 1 woman clinging for life.
Investigators have not released details, but they suspect Clody Sylverne, a father of 3, killed his wife and mother-in law in a murder-suicide. The children were not injured.
Around 7:15 a.m., 911 received a call about shots fired at a house in the 9700 block of Northwest 83rd Street. BSO Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) remained in contact with the caller who was still inside the home.
“The deputies were then able to identify a room where three children, ages 4, 8 and 11, were located and assisted them out of the bedroom window to safety,” Sergeant Donald Prichard of the Broward County Sheriff’s office said. BSO’s statement said: “The suspected murder-suicide left 3 adults dead and 3 children without parents.”
Deputies went into the residence shortly after, where they found Sylverne and a woman dead. They also found another woman alive and fighting for her life. Investigators did not identify if the woman was the wife or mother-in-law. She was airlifted to North Broward Health, where she later died.
Jimmy Christophonte arrived at the scene to learn that it was his best friend, Sylverne, 39, who he said was found dead along with Sylverne’s wife, Benouchka, 38, and the woman’s mother.
“I can’t believe it. I am so heartbroken,” Christophonte said.
While investigators have not confirmed the identities of the victims, Christophonte showed pictures to Local 10 of his best friend, and a recent video of Sylverne and his wife celebrating her birthday, along with a photo of Sylverne’s mother-in-law.
“He is a great guy. He is my brother, you know. We always hang out together and he’s very nice. That was my best friend, so I lost him I can’t believe that,” he said.
The children are being cared for by victim advocates with the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing.