In a series of harrowing events in Florida, twin children were discovered dead in their home shortly after their mother's tragic death. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office released details of the chilling incident, which has left the community reeling in shock and grief.
At approximately 8:45 a.m. last Friday, a distressed 911 call reported a woman, later identified as 31-year-old Catorreia Hutto of Sanford, pulling her silver car over on the S.R. 417 bridge. To the alarm of onlookers, she climbed out through her car's passenger-side window and plunged into Lake Jesup below.
Disturbing Home Findings
Upon arrival, responding deputies spotted Ms. Hutto in the water. In their effort to retrieve her, two fishermen were approached for assistance. Notably, one of the fishermen was a retired firefighter from Seminole County. Despite their swift combined efforts, Ms. Hutto was pronounced dead at the scene.
The tragic discovery was the first in a series of devastating events that morning. Upon establishing her identity and learning of her maternal status, authorities conducted a welfare check at Hutto's residence. Inside, the lifeless bodies of 5-year-old twins, Ahmad and Ava Jackson, were discovered, resting peacefully in their beds. It was further revealed that both children had special needs.
Images emerging from the scene showed concerned officers on the bridge, with local news outlet Click Orlando noting the profound sadness on their faces.
Inside the children's bedroom, a gun was found. However, preliminary findings indicated that neither of the children had gunshot wounds or displayed signs of physical trauma. The exact cause of death for the twins is yet to be determined, with the local medical examiner's office set to conduct the post-mortem examination.
Father in the Shadows
Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma, in his briefing to the press, stated, "Had the deputies not checked the vital signs, the full extent of this tragic scenario might not have been realized so promptly."
Further investigation into the family's background unveiled a series of concerning details. The Hutto family's residence was a Habitat for Humanity project, completed just a year prior to the tragic events. However, it was sparsely furnished, with very little food available, raising questions about the family's wellbeing and financial situation.
While Ms. Hutto was employed at a temp agency and had reportedly been at work only a few days before the tragedy, the full extent of her financial or emotional struggles remains unclear. The twins were last seen attending school on October 13.
An additional layer to this heartbreaking tale is a missed call. On the night preceding the tragic events, Hutto had tried to contact her mother. At the time, her mother, a resident of Perry, was in Orlando for a medical procedure. She mistakenly believed that one of the twins was playing with the phone, given that no message was left, and thus didn't return the call.
It's also been established that the father of the children is believed to reside in South Florida. Efforts to contact him and inform him of the tragic news are ongoing.
As the community grapples with the sheer magnitude of this tragedy, questions linger about the circumstances leading up to these devastating events. Mental health professionals in the area urge the importance of reaching out for help, emphasizing that community resources are available for those in crisis.
