Detectives believe a father recently killed his twin 17-year-old children before killing himself in their south Orange County apartment, sheriff’s deputies announced Friday.
The motive for the horrific spate of domestic violence and even the timing of the three deaths is unclear.
Deputies responded Wednesday to the Courtney Chase Apartment Homes, not too far from Cypress Creek High School, where the twins were students, to perform a wellness check at a residence, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
When they arrived, they discovered twins Carlo Montiel Infantino and Melanie Montiel Infantino dead in the residence’s living room. Both teens had multiple stab wounds.
Deputies also found their father, Ivan Montiel Roa, 63, dead in the master bedroom, the release said.
“At this time, detectives believe Ivan murdered Carlo and Melanie and then committed suicide,” it said.
The sheriff’s office did not say when the killings may have occurred, how the father died or what might have led to the violence.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson said Friday that a recording of any 911 calls related to the case was not yet available to be released, but that they thought a neighbor had called because they had not seen the family in a week.
Families at Cypress Creek were notified of the twins’ passing Thursday in an audio message from Principal Frederick Corn.
“I know I speak for our entire Cypress Creek community when I express the extreme grief we feel with this loss,” he said. “Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with family and friends during this incredibly painful time…we ask that you keep our school family in your thoughts as we navigate this loss together.”
Public records indicate Montiel Roa’s wife died in June. Her obituary and his social media say the family was from Venezuela.
Montiel Roa was a realtor, according to his Facebook page, and he had a construction business that was dissolved Sept. 25, business records show.
Many of his posts on Facebook, most of which are reposts he appears to have made of other people’s accounts, allude to outlandish conspiracy theories.
Those include posts that reference the infamous Pizzagate conspiracy that elites are drinking the blood of children, as well the flat Earth movement with its claim that gravity isn’t real. Another post had a meme referencing a “new world order.”
He had also been selling furniture online, including a bed, couch and table, along with two bicycles, according to an online post.
The family’s home was in a gated apartment complex just off Orange Blossom Trail.
On Friday morning, the busy street outside the complex was lined on both sides with a dozen press vehicles from local news outlets. Representatives from the complex sat in golf carts outside the main gate turning visitors away. Inside the complex was quiet, with no signs of police activity.
Michael Cuglietta of the Sentinel staff contributed to this story.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.