PLANTATION, Fla. – Authorities identified the victims found dead after a suspected murder and attempted suicide at a Plantation home as a mother and her 2-year-old son; the child’s father, they said, was taken to the hospital after an apparent overdose attempt.
The murder and attempted suicide happened at a home along Northwest 97th Avenue in the Jacaranda Lakes area of the city, according to police.
On Wednesday, police identified the victims as 38-year-old Sara Ashley Gama and toddler Ethan Aponte.
Jean Carlos Aponte, 40, the father, was rushed to a nearby hospital after being found at the scene, police said.
He “is listed in critical condition, possibly as a result of an apparent self-induced drug overdose,” Plantation police said in a news release Wednesday.
Police initially said the case was a stabbing incident Tuesday; they did not provide additional details Wednesday.
“Due to this case being an active possible homicide investigation in its preliminary stages, no further information is available at this time,” the news release states.
Neighbors said they saw the family’s 3-month-old child being placed into the care of grandparents.
On Wednesday, Local 10 News obtained video of Ethan walking with his father shortly before the killing.
Video from Sky 10 Wednesday also showed divers retrieving a cellphone from a nearby body of water.
Sources said it may contain critical information about the last messages between husband and wife.