Mileida Lopez, aged 75, tragically lost her life on June 14, 2022, in Casselberry, Florida, in a harrowing incident that shocked the local community. The incident was part of a triple murder-suicide that also claimed the lives of her daughter, Zuleika Del Carmen Lopez Avila, aged 43, and her 15-year-old grandson, Victor Araujo Lopez. The perpetrator, identified as Carlos Manuel Soto, 51, was Zuleika's husband and Mileida's son-in-law.
According to police reports, Soto fatally shot his wife, mother-in-law, and stepson before turning the gun on himself. The tragic event unfolded in the family's apartment on Coawood Court, where officers discovered the bodies after responding to a 911 call made by the teenage victim.
Investigations revealed that Soto had legally purchased the firearm used in the killings just days before the incident. Despite a previous police visit to the home on June 9, prompted by concerns about a gun, no immediate threats or firearms were found at that time. Language barriers may have contributed to miscommunications during this visit, although a Spanish-speaking officer later re-interviewed Zuleika and provided her with legal options. The police chief expressed bewilderment over the incident, noting that there was no known history of violence involving the family.
The community was left grappling with the senseless loss of life, as detectives worked to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy. Soto, who had been living in the United States for about 15 years, had no prior arrest history or reported incidents of domestic violence. The investigation concluded that the gun used in the murder-suicide was legally obtained, and there were no indications of prior threats or violent behavior from Soto. The case highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence and the challenges in identifying and preventing such tragedies.
