Police officers in Port St. Lucie, Florida, were called to an apartment complex on May 27 to perform a welfare check on a male resident at the behest of his family. Upon arrival, officers heard an infant crying inside the building, prompting concern. The cries led police to look through a window, where they discovered two dead adults lying on the floor.
The infant, 10-month-old Alani, was found unharmed inside the apartment, but her mother, 26-year-old Amanda Hicks, and her unidentified fiancé were dead. Police have released few details about the case, but they believe it was a murder-suicide. Hicks was an aspiring model and well-liked teacher whose friends and family are now grappling with her senseless death.
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Police are trying to piece together what happened.
WPBF reported that officials are stitching together an official timeline of events, but according to police, Hicks' fiancé contacted a family member around 11:50 p.m. on Friday. The same family member attempted to contact the man Saturday morning but was unsuccessful, so he called the police to perform a welfare check. Officers soon found the couple's bodies.
During the investigation, police discovered a surveillance camera that appears to have captured a gunshot at 12:47 a.m.
The teacher had only lived in the apartment for a few weeks.
Neighbors in the Peacock Run Apartments told CBS 12, that Hicks and her fiancé moved into the complex with the infant about three weeks ago.
"We didn't even get time to even get to know them because everything happened so fast," a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous told the outlet. "My heart's out for the family, though. Hopefully, they find peace in all of this."
The neighbor described them as an average couple, and said nothing seemed awry.
"You never know what people go through. I feel like I wish I could've reached out," the neighbor said.
Hicks was described as a 'great person.'
Raquel Magallon, a good friend of the slain teacher, told the New York Post she met Hicks in 2017, when the pair worked together waiting tables, and that everyone loved her. Magallon said that Hicks was thrilled when she began as a substitute teacher in 2020. That job led her to a full-time reading teacher position at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School, where she worked at the time of her death.
The pair kept up on social media until March of this year, when Hicks deleted her Facebook account. Magallon said that she was in the dark about her friend's life or what may have led to her death.
Looking back, Magallon said things had been strange with her longtime friend.
Magallon said she had no idea that Hicks was pregnant or that she was even in a relationship.
"I was surprised to hear that she had a baby," the friend said. "I have a side baby clothing business, so I would have thought she would have brought it up. But she never did," she told the New York Post.
She added that when Hicks suddenly deleted her Facebook account, she thought it had something to do with her job. Now, she wonders if there is more to it. "None of it makes sense," the friend said. "It's just really sad."
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Hicks' school community is heartbroken.
HuffPost obtained an email sent to Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School staff by Principal Darcia Borel.
"It is with great sadness that we write to inform you about the tragic passing of one of our teachers, Ms. Amanda Hicks," the email read. "The Port St. Lucie Police Department has confirmed that Ms. Hicks was the victim of a homicide. While words will never be enough to convey the shock and sadness this news has brought to our school family, it is more important than ever to come together to support one another through our grief journey."
"Additional information about memorials and opportunities for supporting Amanda's beautiful little girl will be forthcoming," Borel wrote. "Please remember to hug your loved ones a little tighter and keep Amanda's family in your thoughts and hearts."
Family friend Mackenzie Casper created a donation site to help raise funds for Hicks' funeral and final expenses. It has collected nearly $2,000 of a $10,000 goal so far.
"I was so sorry to hear of your family's tragedy losing Amanda, she seemed so lovely," a donor wrote. "You have my deepest condolences ❤️."
"Amanda, you were such an incredible person inside and out," another comment reads. "Always making people smile with your kindness. I hope your family can find some peace through these hard times. Rest easy, Amanda. ❤️."
Hicks' daughter, Alani, has been placed in the care of a family member.
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.
