TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
A Florida mother allegedly killed her twin 5-year-old children and then died by suicide shortly afterward. A witness reportedly saw the mother, 31-year-old Catorreia Hutto, jump from a bridge in Seminole County just before 9 a.m. Friday. When deputies arrived, her body was floating in the water.
The discovery of Hutto’s body prompted a welfare check to her home, where police found the bodies of her special needs children, twins Ava and Ahmed Jackson. Family and investigators are now trying to understand why the tragedy happened.
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The investigation began early Friday morning.
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma addressed the media on Friday and gave details about the investigation. He explained that police were contacted by a witness who described seeing a woman on Southbound State Road 417 get out on the passenger side of a vehicle and jump from the bridge and into the St. John’s River in “what appeared to be an attempt at a suicide,” Lemma said.
Moments later, emergency responders arrived and reportedly saw Hutto’s body floating in the water.
Deputies continued their investigation at Hutto's home.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the home to check on Ava and Ahmed and found them in their beds. At first, they appeared to be asleep, but deputies soon realized they were dead.
Lemma said deputies left the home to obtain a search warrant, he said during the media conference. There was allegedly a gun nearby, but the children did not appear to have died from gunshot wounds. The cause of their deaths is under investigation.
The family was not on police radar.
Lemma said this was their first time at the home, which was recently built by Habitat for Humanity. Hutto reportedly had no prior history with police or any known mental illness.
Lemma said there was not much food in the home and little furniture. “It looked like the family may have been struggling financially,” he shared during the media conference. But the motive is unknown.
Hutto's last known communication was with her mother.
Lemma said Hutto’s last known phone call was to her mother, Carol, but it was not answered. Carol spoke with the sheriff’s office and reportedly said there was no voicemail, so she assumed one of the twins was playing with their mother’s phone. It is unclear why the call was made.
Lemma said the deaths were shocking to those who knew the family. “There’s nobody that we know that had any indication that she may be in this dire state of needing service where she was suicidal or potentially homicidal,” he explained.
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News of the deaths shocked the community.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office posted about the tragedy on its Facebook page, and many people shared their sadness.
“I knew her personally from church and I am completely devastated! I have so many fond memories with her and her babies went to daycare with my daughter,” a friend wrote. “She loved them so much too! This cannot be real.”
“This is heartbreaking because no one knows what was going on with her or what she was dealing with,” someone else shared. “Maybe she did reach out for help and received the crap end of the stick .. it’s just a sad case… praying for her friends and family …”
Ava and Ahmed’s father, Xavier Jackson, created a GoFundMe page to help with final expenses. “The few years GOD allowed them here was wonderful. I can’t help but to think if there is anything I could’ve done differently to prevent this,” he wrote on the page. “It’s so unreal that I have to plain a funeral for my twin babies. This is all a bit overwhelming, please understand we as a family are grieving, any support will help.
“I feel an extreme amount guilt as if I failed them. Writing this hurts inside because my poor babies are suppose to bury me,” he continued on the page. “I wouldn’t wish this pain on loosing a child to anyone. I keep rethinking and I wish things were different. I’m torn, i’m broken and my heart is hurting. Please just keep us in your prayers this is not an easy journey.”
The page has raised more than $500 of a $25,000 goal so far.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
