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Florida Teacher and Fiancé Found Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide as Baby Daughter Cried Nearby
"Officers could hear a young infant inside the residence crying," Port St Lucie Police stated. "Through a rear sliding door, Officers were able to visually see two adults inside on the floor, who appeared deceased."
The bodies of a Florida teacher and her fiancé were found late Saturday morning in what police believe was a murder-suicide, as the woman's baby girl cried nearby.
A spokesman for the Port St. Lucie Police Department told Oxygen.com Tuesday that a "preliminary investigation has revealed a 25-year-old man stabbed his 26-year-old fiancée then shot himself."
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"The timeframe is still under investigation," the police spokesman added, "however it appears at this time that the man last attempted to repeatedly call a family member of his at approximately 11:50 pm the night before a single gunshot was heard on nearby video surveillance at approximately 12:47 am. The man’s family member attempted to call him back the next morning but was unable to reach him, later prompting a 911 call for a welfare check."
Police said they don't plan on naming either of the parties, but the Martin County School District has identified the female victim as Amanda Hicks, a teacher at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School, telling Oxygen.com in a statement that she "was tragically killed over the weekend."
Port St. Lucie Police added that a 10-month-old infant was in her crib, unharmed, for about 11 hours until authorities forced their way in to the home Saturday morning.
"The child has since been placed into the custody of a family member," Sgt. John Dellacroce, a department spokesman, told Oxygen.com. "The man and woman recently moved to Port St. Lucie and have had no prior involvements together with the Port St. Lucie Police Department."
The school's principal told staff in a message obtained by Oxygen.com, "It is with great sadness that we write to inform you about the tragic passing of one of our teachers, Ms. Amanda Hicks. The Port St. Lucie Police Department has confirmed that Ms. Hicks was the victim of a homicide.
"While words will never be enough to convey the shock and sadness this news has brought to our school family, it is more important than ever to come together to support one another through our grief journey," the message continued.
Port St. Lucie Police said in a statement posted to Facebook Sunday that its officers responded to an address at Northwest East Torino Parkway on Saturday at around 11:45 a.m. after a family member of a man who lived there request a welfare check. Cops found the door locked.
"Officers could hear a young infant inside the residence crying," police stated. "Through a rear sliding door, Officers were able to visually see two adults inside on the floor, who appeared deceased. Port St Lucie Police Officers forced their way through the locked front door and took the unharmed, crying infant from their crib."
Port St. Lucie Police added that no further info is being released at this time, but that, "Detectives are not currently looking for anyone else who may have been involved."
Hicks had worked for the Martin County School District since 2019 and taught reading to 6th and 7th grade students, the district told Oxygen.com.
Counselors were made available at the school where she worked starting Tuesday morning for anyone who needed them.
"Additional information about memorials and opportunities for supporting Amanda’s beautiful little girl
will be forthcoming," the school's principal wrote to staff. "Please remember to hug your loved ones a little tighter and keep Amanda’s family in your thoughts and hearts."
