Customs and Border Protection officer strangled wife, shot kids and then self, autopsies find
ORLANDO, Fla. _ The Customs and Border Protection officer who was found dead with his family at their home near Bithlo, Fla., last week had strangled his wife to death and shot both his children, before killing himself, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
Officials had initially said the officer, 39-year-old Ezequiel Almodovar III, had fatally shot his entire family, who were found dead in their Corner Glen Drive home Feb. 20.
Authorities continue to investigate the deaths of 38-year-old Marielis Soto and the couple's kids, Ezequiel "Zeke" Almodovar, 16, and Gabriel "Gabe" Almodovar, 12. It is still not clear when the family died, but the father had not shown up for work for at least two days and the children had not attended school all week. They were found on a Thursday.
A Customs and Border Protection Assistant Port Director had requested a welfare check on the officer Feb. 20 after Ezequiel Almodovar III had not shown up for work in two days, according to an OCSO incident report released Friday.
The two children had last attended school on Feb. 14, both missing four days of school before their bodies were found, according to Orange County Public Schools spokeswoman Lorena Arais. She declined to comment further on the case or the students.
Officials have not given a possible motive for the killings. Sheriff John Mina said deputies responded to the home about 3 p.m. Thursday after they were asked to conduct a well-being check on the family.
_ Orlando Sentinel
