Woman describes discovery of murder-suicide scene in Kendale Lakes

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A woman spoke to Local 10 News Monday, a day after she discovered four people dead inside a home in the Kendale Lakes neighborhood of Miami-Dade County.

“He opened the door — the chain was still on the door — so when I saw that, I was like, ‘There’s somebody here!’” Joanna Cruz said.

Cruz said he didn’t immediately realize the four people who lived there had just been involved in a murder-suicide.

“I saw the old woman’s body on the bed on the right, the old man’s body on the other bed on the left, blood coming out of the mouth, and the wife in the other room, head up with blood.” Cruz said. “I said he either shot them or stabbed them because there was blood and it looked like it had dried, so it’s been a few days already.”

Cruz said her mother initially went to the home to deliver food to the 80-year-old woman who lived there and was in care.

But when no one answered the door, she called Cruz so she could deliver a spare key.

Cruz said they then found the bodies of the woman, her husband, also in his 80s, and his son and his wife, both in their 60s.

She said the son fatally shot both his parents and his wife before turning the gun on himself.

“I was terrified because I was like, ‘Well, if there’s somebody with a gun, then you know we’re going to get shot,’” Cruz said.

Detectives spent hours at the home on Southwest 137th Court, investigating it as a murder-suicide.

Police said officers discovered the bodies after being called to the home to conduct a welfare check, adding that a gun was found next to one of the bodies.

“When the officers got here, the door, the residence was secured. So it’s not a public safety issue. We’re not looking for anybody,” said Detective Angel Rodriguez.

Neighbors who spoke to Local 10 News were shocked by the news.

“Very surprised, because it’s not normal in this neighborhood,” said one neighbor.

Neighbors are understandably upset as they are now left to wonder why anyone would be motivated to commit such an act.

“I feel like I’m in a nightmare because it’s very unpleasant to see this and an elderly woman who was a beautiful soul — a beautiful person,” Cruz said.

Police have not released any other details about the murder.