A Port St. Lucie couple with a history of domestic violence is dead after an apparent murder-suicide while children were at home, according to police officials on May 12.
Port St. Lucie police officers went to the home in the 2700 block of Southwest Esenada Terrace about 5:30 p.m. May 11 in response to a call for service involving reports of people with gunshot wounds.
They found 31-year-old Jimsley Estime and 30-year-old Ketsy Alexis inside the home and pronounced both dead, according to Officer Brittany McNally in a news release issued the afternoon of May 12. A firearm was recovered as part of the investigation.
The couple shared three young children, according to officials. The two youngest, ages 1 and 2, were inside the home at the time of the incident.
Their third child, who is 6 years old, returned home from school, saw the younger children upset inside the home and found both parents deceased in the kitchen area, according to McNally.
The 6-year-old child then contacted a family member, who called 911.
During the investigation, detectives learned Estime and Alexis had been married about seven years and lived together but were in the process of a divorce. It appeared the divorce proceedings may have stemmed from allegations of infidelity involving Estime, according to McNally in the news release.
Detectives confirmed the couple had previous documented domestic-related incidents, including a previous Port St. Lucie police investigation involving accusations of written threats to kill that resulted in Estime’s arrest on Jan. 26.
On Feb. 5, according to police, Alexis requested charges against Estime be dismissed and indicated she didn’t want to testify or pursue prosecution.
Evidence gathered during the May 11 investigation suggested it appeared to be an isolated incident, police said.
No further information was available. The investigation is ongoing, police said.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence or in need of help should contact local law enforcement or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida couple found dead by their child after apparent murder-suicide
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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