The scene of a gruesome murder-suicide in West Kendall was still fresh with remnants of the aftermath as newly placed flowers, balloons and candles decorated the Chase Bank ATM where a woman and child lost their lives Friday.
Bullet holes still marked the walls and small bloodstains stained the shattered ATM. An armed guard watched as local residents paid their respects and placed flowers or meaningful trinkets. The Chase Bank branch quickly took corrective action after the tragedy.
The security guard patrolled the bank late the night of the shooting, and a hired worker quickly patched over the remaining bullet holes in an attempt to return the bank to its former appearance Saturday morning.
A West Kendall resident who paid respects at the scene said she was shocked to hear of the shooting so close to home. She was shocked to hear that a three-year-old child had been involved in an act of “senseless violence.”
Around 7:40 a.m. Friday, 43-year-old Odalys Bancroft and Theodore Couto, soon to be four years old, were sitting in a minivan at the Chase ATMs.
An unknown man pulled up next to her in an SUV and opened fire, killing them. He then shot himself.
READ MORE: Child in car seat and 2 adults dead in shooting at Kendall mall, police say
It’s unclear how many times he fired the gun, but there were at least five bullet holes in the bank.
Police have not yet confirmed the trio’s relationship. The boy’s father, Vicente Couto, is Bancroft’s ex-husband. He and the Couto family have declined to speak to the Miami Herald.
A GoFundMe has been created for Theodore to raise money for funeral expenses and family support.
“Today our family faces an unimaginable tragedy,” Jennifer Couto wrote. “Vicente Couto has lost his only son, Theodore Couto. There are no words to express the depth of our grief. Theodore was a bright light in our lives, and his sudden departure has left us shattered.
By early Saturday afternoon, the fundraiser had raised more than $18,000.
“Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers,” she wrote. “Keep your loved ones close and cherish every moment together. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.”
Friends and colleagues remembered Bancroft as a wonderful person to know and work with.
A few messages were left on her Facebook page offering condolences and honoring her.
Karina Pratt told the Miami Herald that she has a long history with Bancroft, a friendship that lasted 14 years.
“She was an overall wonderful person, so kind and humble,” she said.
Bancroft had been with Jackson Health System since 2015 and served in various roles as a “valued” team member. He read a statement from Jackson Health President and CEO Carlos Migoya to employees.
“…Odalys has been a valued member of our team, known for her unwavering dedication, kindness and exceptional talent,” said Migoya.
She started her career as a clinical staff nurse in the operating room, the statement said. She subsequently held leadership positions at Holtz Children’s Hospital and most recently served as director of regulatory affairs.
“Odalys believed deeply in the work we do and never shied away from showing off her Jackson pride,” said Migoya. “Jackson is better because of Odalys and the indelible mark she has left on our organization.”
A series of murder-suicides
The tragedy in West Kendall was just one of three similar, apparently domestic murder-suicides in Miami-Dade over the past week.
On Thursday, a murder-suicide at a Coral Gables apartment complex left a man and a woman dead and her 20-year-old son injured.
READ MORE: Man Kills Woman, Injures Her Son Before Killing Himself in Gable’s Apartment, Police Say
On June 2, two men and two women were killed in a murder-suicide at a West Kendall home.
READ MORE: Four found dead after murder-suicide at Kendall home, police say. What we know
When Miami-Dade police officers conducted a welfare check at the home, they discovered the four bodies.
One of the men, believed to be around 60 years old, was found alone in a room with a gun and is suspected of being the shooter. Police said it appears he killed the three other people scattered around the home before killing himself.
One of the women murdered was a hospice patient in her eighties. The age of the second woman is unclear, although the murdered man was about 80 years old.
At the time, Det. Angel Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police Department, emphasized that resources are offered for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
“We always emphasize to the community the importance of mental health. it is part of our overall well-being,” Rodriguez underlined. “If you are in a position where you are not feeling well or need someone to talk to, there are plenty of services available in the province.”
If you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). It is available 24/7.
