A 29-year-old mother in Florida, United States, was left devastated after discovering her two young children and their father dead inside his home while arriving to collect them on her scheduled custody day.
Olivia Piccolo made the discovery on Wednesday, October 7, at the Cocoa residence of her former partner, 37-year-old Joseph Dingwall. The children, identified as seven-year-old Remy and five-year-old Aria, were found dead alongside their father.
According to Cocoa Police Chief Evander Collier IV, Piccolo went into the house after arriving to pick up the children and being unable to reach their father. The door was partially open when she entered and discovered the three bodies.
Authorities believe Dingwall was responsible for the children’s deaths before taking his own life. Police said officers had previously responded to the residence 11 times over various incidents involving medical concerns and suspicious activities.
A neighbour, Marcos Garcia, reportedly heard two gunshots at approximately 12:20 a.m., around 12 hours before the bodies were discovered. He also said doorbell camera footage captured Dingwall walking back and forth outside the property with a flashlight shortly after the gunshots were heard.
The Cocoa Police Department has not publicly disclosed a motive, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Following the tragedy, a fundraising campaign was launched to assist Piccolo and cover funeral expenses. Organisers described the children as the centre of their mother’s life, highlighting the deep love she had for them.
Cocoa Mayor Michael C. Blake also appealed to residents to support the grieving family as the community comes to terms with the heartbreaking incident.
