A mother’s worst nightmare came true when she found her two young kids dead after their dad killed them in an apparent murder-suicide.
The Cocoa Police Department confirmed to Us that the children, who have been identified as 5-year-old Aria Dingwall and 7-year-old Remy Dingwall, were found dead at their home in Cocoa, Florida, just before noon on Wednesday, October 7.
Police confirmed that the kids’ father, Joseph Dingwall, was also found dead at the scene.
Authorities told the outlet that they believe Joseph, 37, was “responsible for the children’s deaths” and that evidence at the scene indicated that the family members died in a murder-suicide.
The children’s mother, Olivia Piccolo, found them dead, and she immediately called 911 to report the tragedy, according to an audio recording of the call obtained by Florida Today.
Piccolo reportedly went to the residence to check on her kids because they missed school, per the outlet.
Police said that it was her day to have custody, and she tried to get into contact with Joseph when she went to the home. Upon her arrival, she found that the door was ajar and she let herself in, according to WESH.
As authorities work to learn what happened, one neighbor told police that they heard gunshots coming from the home around midnight, per WESH and Florida Today.
Meanwhile, a neighbor’s surveillance footage obtained by WFTV showed a man leaving the residence around midnight and pacing in circles before he went back inside. It is not currently clear if the man in the video was Joseph or someone else.
Following the tragedy, two separate fundraisers have been set up to help Piccolo through the difficult time.
In a GoFundMe fundraiser, Remy was remembered as a “strong, kind, and intelligent young boy who loved his video games, music, and friends.”
“He was in the gifted program at school and excelled at anything he put his mind to,” the fundraiser stated. “He was a fierce protector of his little sister and his mother.”
Meanwhile, Aria was described as “a bright, courageous, and compassionate little girl who loved her squishy dumplings, all animals, and everything pink, just like her mama.”
“Remy and Aria were siblings, best friends, and each other’s little world,” the family said in the fundraiser’s description. “They should have had the chance to grow up together, make each other laugh, annoy each other, protect each other, and one day look back on their childhood with a lifetime of memories.”
The investigation into the case remains ongoing. The Cocoa Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding updates in the case.
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