According to a shocking news release from the Port St. Lucie Police Department, a young woman in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Amanda Hicks, was found dead near her wailing infant. Her boyfriend was also found dead near her, with police believing it was a murder-suicide where the boyfriend killed Hicks and then killed himself.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department announced the shocking murder-suicide on Facebook, saying that around midday on May 27th, they responded to a welfare check requested by “a family member of an adult male resident.”
Once at the residence, the police officers heard an infant crying inside the residence and discovered that the residence was locked. They then continued to investigate from the outside of the residence and found that there were two adults on the floor, and both appeared to be deceased.
The responding officers then managed to force their way through the locked door, the press release noted, and began to clear and investigate the residence. They were, fortunately, able to rescue the wailing, 10-month-old infant; it is now with a family member of the deceased woman.
The press statement goes on to note that detectives from the Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the residence after police officers had forced their way in. Their initial investigation led them to conclude that the adult male killed the adult female, with whom he was romantically involved, before taking his own life.
Speaking about Hicks, the principal of the school at which she taught, Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School, said, “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.”
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Continuing, he encouraged people to recognize just how important and special family members are while they are still here with us, saying, “Please remember to hug your loved ones a little tighter and keep Amanda’s family in your thoughts and hearts.”
One of Hicks’ friends spoke out as well, telling a local news station that Hicks was someone special who “lit up the room” and was always happy. Speaking about that to 25WPBF, Raquel Magallon said, “She just lit up the room. She had such a big, beautiful smile. She was always happy and always energetic. This is like really shocking and really sad. … She was just an angel. She was the most happiest person. She definitely brightened my day every time I saw her.” Magallon added, “I know she’s at peace now, but I pray that she didn’t suffer,”
As of now, no word has been released on the reason for the murder-suicide. Hicks and her boyfriend moved into the residence in which they were found dead, a three-story apartment complex, just a few weeks before the horrific slaying.
Featured image credit: Port St. Lucie Police Department