In a tragic turn of events in Florida, a mother allegedly orchestrated a murder-suicide involving her two children, following a court order that stripped her of her son's custody.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office identified the woman as Brandy Hutchins, who reportedly shot her 10-year-old son, Aiden, and her 19-year-old daughter, before fatally shooting herself in their Lake Wales mobile home.
The incident unfolded after a court ruling mandated Hutchins to relinquish Aiden's custody to his father, a resident of Maine. The custody dispute did not involve Hutchins' daughter, who had a different father. Hutchins' ex-husband was in Florida for a court appearance with her, as she had failed to comply with the custody handover of their son. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd revealed that Hutchins was directed to surrender Aiden's custody by 6 p.m. on Friday, but she missed the appointment.
Upon learning of Hutchins' violation of the court order, deputies tirelessly worked over the weekend to locate Aiden. Their efforts culminated in a grim discovery on Sunday afternoon: the lifeless bodies of Aiden, his half-sister, and Hutchins in their home.
Sheriff Judd, in his briefing, stated that the investigation suggests Hutchins "has murdered her 10-year-old child and her 19-year-old child murdered them and then subsequent to that, she shot herself." He expressed his disbelief at the horrific circumstances, especially given Hutchins' lack of criminal history or any signs of potential violence.
Aiden's father took to Facebook on Sunday to share his grief: "It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this to give everyone an update about my son Aiden Hutchins who was taken by his mother on August 25, 2023 who decided to murder him," he wrote. "He was killed by her today, August 27, 2023. He will forever be in my heart and did not deserve this."
Sheriff Judd acknowledged that while the sheriff's office handles numerous court orders, incidents of this nature are rare. He extended his condolences to the bereaved family, expressing his devastation for the young boy who lost his life due to his mother's refusal to comply with a court order.
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