Plantation, Florida – A tragic incident in Broward County has resulted in the arrest of a man suspected of murdering his wife and toddler. Jean Carlos Aponte, 40, has been charged with the deaths of his 38-year-old wife Sara Ashley Gama and their 2-year-old son Ethan Aponte.
Authorities discovered the bodies of Gama and Ethan inside their Plantation home on Tuesday. According to the arrest report, Aponte allegedly stabbed his son four times and his wife 28 times, with both victims showing defensive wounds on their hands. Ethan’s cause of death was determined to be sharp force injury and drowning, while Sara’s cause of death was listed as sharp force injury.
Tragically, Ethan was found face down in the pool, while Sara was discovered on the kitchen floor by her father. A growing makeshift memorial now stands outside their residence in Plantation.
Following the discovery of the bodies, police visited the home for a welfare check around noon. They found the mother and child deceased, with Aponte also inside the house but unconscious due to a possible drug overdose. He was subsequently hospitalized in critical condition.
Aponte now faces charges of first-degree murder and premeditated murder for the deaths of his wife and son. If convicted, he could potentially face the death penalty or life in prison. Additionally, a judge has ordered Aponte to undergo a mental health screening given his alleged suicide attempt.
Appearing in court over the weekend, Aponte remains in custody without bond. The community is left reeling from this tragic and senseless loss of life, with many expressing shock and disbelief at the events that have unfolded.