Plantation man accused of fatally stabbing wife, son multiple times
PLANTATION — The man who was hospitalized from an apparent drug overdose after the sudden deaths of his wife and toddler in Broward County has been arrested and charged with their murders.
Jean Carlos Aponte, 40, is behind bars after police found his 38-year-old wife Sara Ashley Gama and 2-year-old son Ethan Aponte dead inside their Plantation home on Tuesday.
The arrest report says Aponte stabbed his son 4 times and his wife 28 times. Authorities said the boy and his mom had defensive wounds to the hands.
Ethan's cause of death was determined to be sharp force injury and drowning, while Sara's cause of death was determined to be sharp force injury.
Ethan was found face down, floating in the pool, Sara was found by her dad on the kitchen floor.
A makeshift memorial grows outside their Plantation home.
At around noon that day, police went to the home for a welfare check and found the mother and child inside.
Investigators told CBS News Miami that Aponte was also inside but unconscious due to a possible drug overdose. He was then taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
Aponte is facing two counts of both first-degree murder and premeditated murder.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison.
Because he allegedly tried to take his own life, a judge ordered him to undergo a mental health screening.
Aponte appeared in court over the weekend and is being held without bond.