Police investigate apparent murder-suicide involving married couple
By Malcolm Shields, Ari Hait
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PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (WPBF) — Police in Port St. Lucie say a husband and wife were found shot to death inside their home in the 2700 block of Esenada Terrace on Monday afternoon in what investigators believe was a murder-suicide.
“They were a beautiful family, beautiful. Just something happened between wife and husband,” said Irma, a neighbor.
Authorities said the couple’s two youngest children, ages 1 and 2, were inside the home during the shooting.
Their 6-year-old child came home from school and found the bodies.
“We pray for the family. We pray for the family and for the children,” said Pamela, another neighbor.
Police identified the husband as Jimsley Estime and said he was arrested in January, accused of making written threats to kill his wife, 30-year-old Ketsy Alexis.
Police said the case was dismissed because Alexis refused to prosecute.
“My heart really breaks for this family,” said Nina Batista, a licensed clinical social worker.
Batista, who has treated hundreds of domestic abuse victims, said many cases involve victims who refuse prosecution and protect their abuser.
“The terror floods them to the fact that they don’t feel like they can go anywhere. They’re in survival. They’re stuck. It’s a cage without the physical cage,” Batista said.
In this case, Alexis had filed for divorce from Estime.
Batista said statistics show the idea of losing their partner is often when abusers become most dangerous.
“I think people really need to take this seriously and understand how dangerous and scary these situations can become,” Batista said.
Batista encouraged anyone in an abusive relationship to call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
She said it’s important for everyone to know help is available.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.
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