A triple stabbing incident in Florida has left a community utterly devastated after a wounded 12-year-old girl walked a mile from their house to get help for her 3-year-old sister. Both were attacked with a knife by their father early Thursday morning, July 21.
The police commended the 12-year-old for her bravery and determination but her baby sister did not survive the stabbing wounds, according to the Daily Beast. The older girl and her father, Juan Bravo-Torres, 39, who stabbed himself after attacking his daughters, have been taken to a hospital due to their critical wounds. The mother was not at home during the attack.
According to reports, the father stabbed the toddler to death and then woke up his 12-year-old. He then slit her throat as she tried to fight him off. Later, the girl pretended to be dead, hoping her father would stop the attack.
The father then started stabbing himself and ended up unconscious. Seeing her father down, the girl got out of the house and walked to a McDonald's where her mother worked.
The police were then called to the fast-food restaurant to find the bleeding child. Longwood police Sgt. Derek Chenoweth said the the12-year-old's courageous effort blew him away.
"It speaks volumes about her courage and what it took to get away from danger and find help as quickly as she did."
Read Also: Thousands Raised for Indiana Man Who Saved 5 Kids from a Burning House Before Firefighters Arrived
Police still investigating the triple stabbing motive
It's still unclear what pushed Bravo-Torres to harm and kill his kids. According to Law & Crime, he had a prior arrest in 2011 for domestic battery. However, the father avoided jail time and joined a diversion program.
While still in the hospital and recovering from his wounds, Bravo-Torres has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. He is still in critical condition but is otherwise stable.
The police said they will take the father to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility when he is discharged from the hospital. They have not stated if they have spoken to the mother. The couple has an older son who was out of state when the stabbing happened.
Speak up, if they know of a domestic situation
Neighbors were assured this was an isolated incident and was not a threat to the community. However, they are still devastated by what happened and said that they have not known the family to have any domestic issues. They were a quiet family.
Tamika Washington, a neighbor, said she cannot believe the tragedy. She usually sees the girls walk to the Sunday church with their mother.
"I don't know what led to this," Washington said. "Maybe [the father] could have avoided this and called for help instead of doing it to these babies."
Meanwhile, Chenoweth said via WESH that people must speak up if they know of someone in a domestic situation so that the issue does not "escalate into a critical incident" like this triple stabbing. Several domestic violence victims are unable to get help because they don't talk about their situation.
Chenoweth's colleagues have taken it upon themselves to place flowers and balloons at the front lawn of the 12-year-old girl's house so she will see the support of the community once she comes home from the hospital.
