HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A Hollywood community is devastated by the deaths of a father and his two children on Thursday, all three found unconscious in their backyard pool.
Officers responded to a pool drowning shortly after 3:30 p.m., in the backyard of a house, along South Highland Drive near Adams Street, police said.
The family has identified the dad as Jean Wisly Fontus, or Wes, and his two children as 5-year-old Emmie and 2-year-old Tyler.
Sky 10 was over the scene on Thursday and showed the screened-in pool where police say the children’s mother found the three of them, and frantically called 911.
Neither family members nor police seem to know exactly how this tragedy happened at this point.
Family members say Fontus often took Emmie and Tyler in the pool during the day, but something happened on Thursday which made this visit to their backyard go terribly wrong.
Anne Marie Dolce, Fontus’ wife and the mother of the children, found the three of them unconscious in the water and called 911, but by the time they got to the hospital, it was too late.
Now, Dolce says she spends her time looking at photos and videos to help keep her spirit up.
“It does make me smile at the same time, but the reality of the situation is really heavy and hard,” she said.
What exactly happened in that pool is still unclear at this point, but Dolce says she’s doing everything she can to remember her husband and children as they were.
She says Emmie was a hugger who would embrace anyone and everyone. She says Tyler would run around and jump off of things as if he were a superhero, and she says her husband would always make everyone feel like they were at home.
“Many have come by to wish their condolences and just offer support. It’s been really, really appreciated,” Dolce said.
According to police, they do not believe there is any foul play involved in this case and that it was some kind of horrible accident, but how it happened is still unclear.
The family is asking for support to assist with the funeral expenses while the investigation is still ongoing.
Click here to donate to the family’s GoFundMe page.