Florida man killed wife and two children over suspicions of an affair before shooting himself, police say

HAINES CITY, FLORIDA: Four people of the same family were found dead in a murder-suicide case on Sunday morning, April 5, after police officials responded to the family's home in the Southern Dunes subdivision. The officials reached the location after a phone call where Mark Joseph told dispatchers that he had shot his wife and two teenage sons.

The 43-year-old also told dispatchers that he would kill himself soon and the door would be unlocked. Joseph murdered his family members as he suspected his wife was having an affair.

According to a Haines City Police Department news release, other family members have been identified as 43-year-old Marie Joseph, 18-year-old Darren, and 14-year-old Markus. While the couple’s kids were found in their beds and Marie was lying on a couch, Mark was found sitting in a chair.

From the crime scene, officers also noted that there was no sign of a struggle and Mark used his weapon to kill the trio before turning the gun on himself. The children were shot in the head while Maria was shot in the head as well as in the shoulder. Mark also had a gunshot wound to the head.

“The investigation, which is ongoing, has revealed a possible motive; Mark suspected Marie was having an affair. We cannot understand the unwarranted and senseless nature of this tragedy and the poignant reminder of the suffering that family and friends will now endure,” Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky said.

The tragic incident took place in a gated community, which has left people residing there shocked. “The kid was just graduating from my old high school that I graduated from. And the 14-year-old, he was probably in high school, freshman year, and it was just very sad because there’s no real rhyme or reason why he did that,” Carmen Wooser, a resident of the same community, said as reported by Bay News 9.

Reports have also stated that the deceased accused worked at a warehouse and also with Allied Universal Security Service. “We are extremely disheartened about this tragic incident and offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. Allied Universal is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in the investigation,” the security company said in a statement.

This incident comes days after a former Puerto Rican police officer shot and killed his 33-year-old girlfriend, then himself, in an apparent murder-suicide case in Polk County, Florida. The man, identified as Jason Comas had come to the United States after he accidentally killed a fellow officer in an accidental discharge incident.

According to WTSP, deputies said the incident happened on March 19 when the victim’s parents went to the home she shared with her 38-year-old boyfriend after they were concerned about not hearing from her.

However, when Comas saw the parents of her girlfriend, he called her mother and asked her to wait outside for a few minutes before entering the home and getting the couple’s 3-year-old and 7-year-old daughters. However, when the mother entered the house after some time, she found the kids were removed, but the house was dark, and she did not see her daughter or Comas inside.

That is when the police were called, and eventually, they found Camos dead in a bed from an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his live-in girlfriend’s body was found on the floor, according to deputies. “At this time, it is unknown how long the victim has been dead. What I can tell you now is that this was a tragic and evil thing that occurred here overnight, and our hearts ache for the family, and those young girls,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.