Video call saves two children after 'extremely violent' man kills ex, 15-year-old daughter and two others
COCOA, FLORIDA: A man who allegedly shot and killed his own teenage daughter, her mother, and two others was arrested after a surviving child inside the home called for help Wednesday morning, March 1. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said during a news conference that deputies were called to a home on Alan Shepard Avenue and Canaveral Groves shortly before 2 am.
The responding officers rushed to the crime scene in Canaveral Groves after one of two unharmed children video called a relative for help, Ivey revealed. Deputies subsequently found the bodies of Kiarra Terwilliger, 15, and her mother Constance Terwilliger, 35, who was previously in a relationship with the accused killer Domenico Gigante, 36. Police identified the other victims as Glenda Terwilliger, 63, and Michael Andrew Watson, 36. It's yet not known how they they are linked to the other victims or the accused.
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Held without bail
Officials said Gigante was arrested later Wednesday at his Rockledge home, about 15 miles south of the crime scene. The 36-year-old, described as an "extremely violent individual," was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bail. One of the surviving children, aged 9 and 6, who were inside the home on Southwest Alan Shepherd Avenue in Canaveral Groves at the time of the murders, reportedly video-called an adult and told them what was happening.
"Something like facetime, or something of that nature, through video contact, the small child told the reporter what had taken place and what they had seen at the house," Ivey told reporters. "(The caller) kept the child on the video the entire time as they were concerned for the child's safety." The adult called 911 as soon as they reached the house. Authorities are yet to establish a motive for the massacre. "Our thoughts and prayers are with this family as they face this most difficult time. I can't even imagine what they're going through having lost their entire family in this capacity," Ivey continued, insisting that the incident was isolated and the community shouldn't worry about their safety.
'Extremely violent individual'
Sheriff Ivey revealed that Gigante was the father of Kiara and was formerly in a relationship with her mother Constance. "Gigante is the biological father of Kiara, the victim who was age 15, and was formerly in a relationship with Constance, the mother," he explained. "Folks, I'm going to tell you that this is an extremely violent individual with an extremely violent past dating back as far as 2005, who should have never been on our streets, where he could take the lives of this entire family," Ivey added. Gigante was previously arrested for domestic violence and battery in 2005, multiple counts of cruelty to animals in 2008, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault in 2012. According to the sheriff, Gigante once killed a dog by breaking its head on the table and snapping its neck, and also stabbed another dog. “That’s the level of violence this individual possesses,” Ivey said. “My thoughts and prayers are with this family. And we as a community mourn their loss.” The investigation is ongoing.