MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade police released new details Tuesday, two days after a family of four was found dead inside their apartment unit in northwest Miami-Dade.
According to police, the family appears to have been dead for more than a week before their bodies were discovered by officers Sunday night.
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Police said Victor Penalba Gonzalez, 60, fatally shot his wife, Yumara Martinez Morejon, 50; as well as his son, Jason Penalba, 18; and daughter, Stephanie Penalba, 13; before taking his own life.
It happened inside their apartment, located at 17400 NW 68th Ave.
According to authorities, Penalba Gonzalez and Martinez Morejon were married in 2007, although relatives told Local 10 News that they had been together on and off for 20 years.
Officers responded to the family’s home just after 9 p.m. Sunday to conduct a welfare check on them.
When officers arrived, they smelled a “distinct foul odor emitting from the apartment,” authorities said.
Police said a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crew was called to the apartment and assisted officers with getting inside.
According to authorities, officers entered the home to find the family dead inside with apparent gunshot wounds.
“We are shocked,” said family member Juan Rodriguez. “We don’t understand how nobody heard the four gunshots. Nobody heard or smelled anything until yesterday.”
Family members were concerned about the safety of Martinez and the children, Rodriguez said.
“He snapped. This guy was super jealous,” he said. “Super dominating. Wanted to control (everything). His kids feared him.”
Rodriguez said Penalba Gonzalez worked for the sanitation department in Hialeah but lost his job a few weeks ago.
“Who would’ve thought this guy was capable of killing his children, killing himself, killing my sister,” he said. “I don’t understand this.”
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.