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Florida Mother Kills Children Before Suicide
28 Feb
Summary
- Mother fatally shot her two children before dying by suicide.
- Father was traveling abroad when the tragedy occurred.
- Family had moved to Florida from Missouri three years prior.
In a shocking incident that has left neighbors reeling, police in Florida are investigating a fatal double murder-suicide. Authorities responded to a call on Thursday, February 26, from a distressed father who was abroad and could not contact his wife and children. Upon arrival at the exclusive Lakewood Ranch neighborhood, first responders discovered a violent scene. Tragically, deputies found Josh James, 14, Emma James, 11, and their mother Monika Rubacha, 44, deceased inside their home. The bodies were discovered in different rooms within the residence. Investigators have determined that Rubacha fatally shot her children before ending her own life. The family had moved to the area from Missouri about three years ago, and prior calls for service at the residence were unknown. The medical examiner's official determination on the cause and manner of death is pending. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office stated that while there was evidence of planning, the exact motive remains unclear.
