In 'Horrific Tragedy,' Land O' Lakes Mother Kills Young Sons Before Killing Herself

LAND O' LAKES, FL — In an act Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco described as a "horrific tragedy," a Land O' Lakes mother took the lives of her 9-month-old and 3-year-old sons before killing herself Wednesday.

Deputies were called to the Lake Padgett area of Land O' Lakes just before 6 p.m. by the husband of the woman.

Nocco said the husband came home to find his wife and his only children dead in a bedroom from gunshot wounds. The husband owned the gun.

Nocco said there were no previous calls to the sheriff's office from this home before the murder-suicide, although there was obviously a mental health concern that led to a young mother killing her children.

"If you're married, you realize that sometimes people argue," Nocco said. "And sometimes arguments lead to situations that cause people to make horrific decisions."

As dozens of sheriff's vehicles arrived to investigate, rumors began to fly on social media from concerned neighbors. To alleviate their panic, Nocco said he posted a notice on the sheriff's Facebook page informing residents there had been a murder-suicide, but there was no danger to neighbors.

However, he said he delayed reporting details of what occurred until victim advocates from Pasco and surrounding counties where family members lived could notify them.

"Our priority last night was for the grieving family," he said. "Unfortunately, in today's world with social media, we know things get out there quickly, but we think family members should learn about it through a chaplain or other professional that goes out to the house to tell them the bad news rather than looking on their social media accounts and seeing this information."

Due to Marsy's Law, a state law passed by Floridians maintaining victims' rights to privacy, the sheriff's office did not release the names of the victims.

Although understandably devastated, Nocco said the father is cooperating with the investigation.

"For the rest of his life, this father is going to live with this tragedy," Nocco said. "I can't imagine what they're (the father and the extended family) going through."

Nocco said he also made the sheriff's Critical Incident Stress Management Team available to everyone, from the 911 operator who took the father's frantic call to the deputies and paramedics at the scene.

He said it was a sight that shook even veteran deputies.

"We're not robots. We have children of our own and, when you go into that scene, it affects you," Nocco said.

At a news conference Thursday, Nocco took the opportunity to talk about a subject he's been consumed with since being appointed sheriff by then-Gov. Rick Scott in 2011.

Over his 11 years as sheriff, he has worked to develop partnerships with mental health services throughout the county as well as creating programs within his own department including bringing in one of the first law enforcement mental health K-9 in the country to provide comfort to those in crisis.

See related story: Sheriff Employs Lovable Pit Bull Mix As Mental Health Therapy K-9

"I want to talk about this mental health crisis we're in, and we have to speak louder and louder," Nocco said. "We believe that 80 percent of every call for service has a mental health component to it. Unfortunately, law enforcement is the tip of the spear when addressing mental health. We're only called when a crisis occurs, and last night was absolutely a tragedy. Law enforcement is only part of it. It's a national issue. We've got to break the stigma, and we've got to stop pushing it under the rug."

Among the projects Nocco's undertaken is to compile a resource guide with a list of community-based resources that are available to help residents experiencing mental health concerns ranging from domestic violence to opioid addiction.

He also formed one of the largest Behavioral Health Intervention Teams in the state that work directly with the homeless, people with mental diseases, people with substance abuse issues, domestic violence and human trafficking victims.

In 2019, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody named Nocco to the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.

"If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health concerns, help is available, and you are not alone," Nocco said, adding, "I want to pass along our condolences to everybody involved in this tragedy, and let them know we as a community are praying for you."