Police ID Elderly Couple Murdered In Hallandale Beach
HALLANDALE BEACH (CBSMiami) – On Friday afternoon, the imposing Broward Crime Scene Unit van was still on the scene of a double murder that claimed the lives of an elderly couple.
Hallandale Beach police said David Pichosky, 71, and Rochelle Wise, 66, were found dead in a Venetian Park condo on the 900 block of Northeast 25th Street.
Police said they suspect foul play was involved and their deaths are being investigated as a double homicide.
The couple was retired from Canada. They were snowbirds and very involved in their local temple.
"It's very crazy," neighbor France Chouinard said through tears. She lives directly next door to the crime scene but didn't hear or see anything out of the ordinary. "That's bad, very bad! I'm afraid, I'm very afraid."
Chouinard said she noticed when Pichosky, whom many called "Donny", didn't pick up his newspaper that morning.
"I see him Wednesday morning and I said 'Hello Donny, Happy New Year.' That's the last time I see him," Chouinard told CBS 4's Lauren Pastrana.
A friend, also in town from Toronto, is shocked something like this could happen here. He did not want to give his name.
"It's something I never experienced. I love your country, but it leaves a lot to be desired," the man said.
It's not known how long their bodies were inside the condo.
A neighbor who hadn't seen them in a while decided to check on them Thursday and discovered their bodies.
People in the eastern Hallandale Beach neighborhood, which lies near the Intracoastal, were stunned a double murder happened in their close-knit community.
"There's never been anything like that here," said neighbor Vicky Laguna.
"I'm devastated. I can't believe it. I'm really shocked. It's awful," said neighbor Camille Consiglio.
BSO investigators are still working to gain more information.
They went door-to-door Friday asking people for clues that could lead to the killer.
"Did we see anybody different or new in the community? Any cars? Nothing that I know of that's different than before," Gloria Gross said. Gross said her dog sniffed around the couple's home Thursday, but she assumed there was another dog inside.
Friends and neighbors in Canada said Pichosky was a businessman and volunteer and Wise was a retired educator.
"She was such a caring, approachable person," Marcy Pencer said. "We're all just a little bit in shock right now."
The school were Wise was once the Vice Principal in Canada sent a letter home with students expressing their sympathy to the victims' families.
Anyone with information is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
