Mary and Seraphine Gingles.Photo:Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Just weeks before she was killed, a Florida woman called police to report that her estranged husband had left a suspicious backpack in their garage, filled with items she believed were intended to kill her.
On Sunday, Feb, 16, Mary Gingles, 34, her father, 64-year-old David Ponzer, and their neighbor, 36-year-old Andrew Ferrin, were all found shot to death in their homes in Tamarac, Fla., theBroward County Sheriff’s Officepreviously stated.
Gingles’ 4-year-old daughter, Seraphine Gingles, was briefly missing before she was located in North Lauderdale with her father Nathan Gingles — Mary’s estranged husband. Nathan, 43, was subsequently arrested in connection with the murders as well as Seraphine’s abduction.
Nathan Gingles.
“My intent is to get a restraining order because I just don’t know what else to do because, I’m just, I’m at a loss, and obviously the current court order is not doing anything at all,” she said in one of the calls, perNBC Miami, as her daughter could also be heard speaking in the background.
In another call, Mary requested an update on the status of the restraining order she’d requested against her husband.
Gingles called the department 14 times in the period of time leading up to her murder, according toWSVN.
All those calls could have led to Nathan’s arrest at the time, Sheriff Gregory Tony said just a few days after the murders. However, an arrest did not occur.
Nathan was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of violating a protective order and one count of interfering with custody, according to online court records. He was also charged with child abuse, kidnapping, burglary, and child neglect. He has pleaded not guilty.
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Lang told investigators that just seconds later he saw a man — whom police believe is the suspect — walking up his driveway with a firearm, alongside a “small, shoeless” child, the affidavit says.
Mary began to run, Lang told police. The surveillance footage then shows the suspect raise a firearm, per the affidavit.
Officers found Mary and Ferrin dead in Ferrin’s home, where she had gone to seek refuge.
During their search of Gingles' home, authorities found a domestic violence injunction order on the kitchen table, per the affidavit. It stated that Nathan was not permitted any contact with Mary or Seraphine.
Eight deputieswere suspended — with pay — from their jobs following Gingles’ murder.
PEOPLE was unable to immediately reach a lawyer for Nathan.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
