Orlando police say that a father killed his wife and three daughters, two of whom were under the age of 12, in an apparent murder-suicide in East Park.
On Tuesday, Orlando Police Department officers found the bodies of three adults and two children at a home on Lake District Lane in the East Park neighborhood after being called to conduct a well-being check around 1 p.m.
Police have identified the father, 45-year-old Donovan Michael Ramirez, as the suspect in what they say was a “domestic violence related incident.”
Ramirez allegedly killed his wife, 39-year-old Stephanie Renee Ramirez, and his three daughters: 22-year-old Alyssa Berumen, 11-year-old Sunny Ramirez, and 7-year-old Shelby Rose Ramirez.
A firearm was found at the scene, although the medical examiner’s office has not yet determined a cause of death.
The incident comes less than two weeks after a similar incident in Longwood, in which a father killed his 3-year-old daughter before attempting to kill his 12-year-old daughter and himself. The 12-year-old girl was able to play dead and escape and the scene while the man, 39-year-old Juan Torres-Bravo, was unconscious. Torres-Bravo was arrested and transferred to the Seminole County Jail after spending a week recovering in the hospital from self-inflicted injuries.
In light of these incidents, police are advising the public of free resources that exist to help those involved in domestic violence situations:
Harbor House of Central Florida – 24-hour confidential crisis hotline – 407-886-2856
Victim Service Center of Central Florida – 24-hour helpline – 407-500-HEAL
National Domestic Violence Hotline – 24-hour English/Spanish hotline – 800-799-7233
United Way of Central Florida 2-1-1 – confidential domestic abuse support