Dena Vanvoorhis, aged 65, tragically lost her life on July 10, 2022, in Boca Raton, Florida. The incident was a shocking murder-suicide that sent ripples through the community. Dena was visiting her mother when she was ambushed and killed by her own son, Wayne Pfeister. The attack occurred at a residence on NW 3rd Terrace, where Wayne Pfeister brutally assaulted his mother before taking his own life. The details of the autopsy revealed the extent of the horrific assault, highlighting the brutality of the crime.
On the day of the incident, Boca Raton Police responded to a call about a shooting at the residence. Upon arrival, they found multiple victims. One victim was outside the residence with head injuries from being struck with a firearm, while another had been shot at by the suspect. The police SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Team were deployed, but they were unable to make contact with the suspect or Dena, who was believed to be inside the house. When the SWAT team breached the residence, they found both Dena and Wayne deceased, with Wayne having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation revealed that several family members were traveling to Florida for a vacation at the residence. Wayne Pfeister, who did not have permission to be at the house, was found inside days before the family's arrival. Despite being directed to leave, he remained at the residence. Dena was the first family member to arrive and was subsequently killed by Wayne. When other family members arrived and couldn't enter the house, they received a text from Dena's phone, which was likely sent by Wayne, indicating that the side door was unlocked. This led to the discovery of the tragic scene inside.
The case was further complicated by the invocation of Marsy's Law, which protected the identities of the victims and limited the release of information. Despite this, the community was deeply affected by the senseless act of violence, and Dena was remembered as a beloved family member with many grandchildren. The investigation into the murder-suicide was thorough, but the primary suspect, Wayne Pfeister, was already deceased, closing the case on his actions.
