Woman, Child Brickell Balcony Fall Investigated As Murder-Suicide

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Miami Police now say they are investigating a murder-suicide after a mother and her son fell to their deaths from the 20th floor or higher at the Rise Condominiums at Brickell City Centre.

CBS4 has confirmed the names of the mother and son from sources outside police who are not officially identifying them at this point.

Miami Fire Rescue and police were called to the building at 88 S.W. 7th St. at 8:15 Monday night.

37-year-old Solange Matos and her 5-year-old son Luciano Matos died after fire rescue said they fell from between 20 and 23 stories high and landed on a 6th floor terrace.

Luciano Matos was rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead. Solange Matos was pronounced dead at the scene.

CBS4's Peter D'Oench spoke with a cousin of Solange Matos who said the family was requesting privacy and did not want to say anything.

Miami Police are not commenting on camera or saying what lead to this family tragedy.

Nina Cahill said she had lived at the Rise condominiums for the past two years and was saddened and perplexed.

"Obviously I have goose bumps," said Cahill. "It's awful. What else is there to think? There's tons of speculation that it's got to be some form of mental illness. I wouldn't even begin to want to comment but it makes me wonder about the state of the human condition. It is very sad."

Cahill said "There are thousands of people out there who can help and for free. I don't know if people in that state of mind are capable of reaching out. I am no expert."

Donna Toma lives in a condo nearby.

"I think this whole thing sends chills down my spine," she said. "This is absolutely unreal. Anything with suicide hit home with me. I mean to take a child with you is terrible, even if she was desperate and felt there was no other way out."

"There are people to talk to and reach out to," she said. "Even if you think life is bad, it is not. It is just not right taking a child's life. There are different people you can talk to. There are programs and hospitals."

Kristen Sullivan also lives in a nearby condo.

"I have never heard of people falling like this from a condo," she said. "It is shocking whenever something likes involves a child. This is heartbreaking and my thoughts go out to the family."

Police have been speaking with witnesses and urge any other witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward.