Miami-Dade man kills woman, two children before taking own life, police say
MIAMI - A murder-suicide in Miami-Dade has taken the lives of a family of four.
According to Miami-Dade police, they received a call to do a welfare check on the family just after 9 a.m. on Sunday.
When officers arrived at the apartment in the 17400 block of NW 68th Avenue, they encountered a foul odor coming from it.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was contacted and they assisted with entry into the residence.
There officers found four people dead from gunshot wounds.
According to police, it appears the 60-year-old father, identified as Victor Penalba, shot and killed his 50-year-old domestic partner Yumara Martinez, their 19-year-old son Jason Penalba, and 13-year-old daughter Stephanie Penalba before taking his own life.
Relative Juan Rodriguez said, "My nephew was 18, starting college. My niece was in 6th grade. My sister came here from Cuba in 1999."
Rodriguez thinks his sister Yumara was the victim of domestic abuse.
For years, he said his sister's partner, Victor, the father of their children recently lost his public works job.
"She had rented the apartment. I guess he was down on his luck and she brought him in."
Rodriguez believes his niece and nephew were living in fear.
"My nephew told his girlfriend, If you don't hear from me in five days something bad has happened. I wonder what they were living with inside that apartment."
The Miami-Dade Police Department says they have resources for family members dealing with domestic violence and anyone living in a toxic situation should reach out to law enforcement.
Juan Rodriguez agrees, saying family members shouldn't suffer in silence. "Today, it was my family. Tomorrow it could be yours. And we don't want it to be yours."