Florida man who shot and killed girlfriend, her 6-year-old daughter, and her aunt arrested after two-day manhunt
Police have arrested and charged a man who killed his girlfriend, her six-year-old daughter, and her aunt on Friday, April 12, and then went on to Facebook to apologize for committing the triple murder.
The Haines Police Department arrested 38-year-old Ernst Cherizard on Sunday, April 14, after a two-day manhunt. He was booked for the murders of 23-year-old Eli Junia Normil, the mother of his two children, her 48-year-old aunt Nicole Guillume, and six-year-old Elizabelle Frenel, who is not his child, according to a WTSP-TV report.
Authorities said the shootings unfolded on Friday night, at around 7:30 pm, when Cherizard went to the Citrus Ridge Apartment Complex. He first shot and killed Normil before then shooting the child several times, including once in the head, according to FOX29.
Later, he was met by two relatives of one of the victims who had come by to check on them. He reportedly told them the victim was not in the apartment, following which they went away. However, one of the relatives, believed to be Guillume, returned and confronted Cherizard, which is when he fatally shot her.
When emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, they rushed the six-year-old to the Orlando hospital, where she was placed on life support. Unfortunately, her injuries proved too severe and she was soon declared dead.
After committing the triple murder, Cherizard drove off in a burgundy 2011 Nissan Altima with Florida tag GZN C82. Police said he later went on to his Facebook page where he wrote a 255-word post threatening to kill himself and trying to explain his actions. He claimed he and his girlfriend were "fighting for the gun" before he "lost it" and started "hearing voices in my head". He also wrote an apology which read, "Daddy is so sorry with all my heart cuz I can't believe this happened."
The car was later spotted passing the Boyton Beach toll plaza just after midnight on Saturday, and authorities soon tracked it down to a location just south of West Palm Beach, where Cherizard was subsequently caught and arrested. The efforts to track him down were assisted by the United States Marshals Service.
Speaking about the case, Haines Police Chief Jim Elensky said, "Despite his remorse, make no mistake about it — this man is a monster. To consciously shoot three innocent, unarmed females is nothing less than being a coward. To shoot a truly innocent six-year-old child is disgusting and beyond comprehension."
Police say they do not know what motivated Cherizard to carry out the shootings. "No motivation, no motive at this point. [It's still] early on in the investigation," Elensky said.