Akili Joseph, a 9-year-old girl from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, tragically died on January 10, 2017, in what authorities determined to be a murder-suicide. Akili was found dead alongside her mother, Ericka Joseph, in their home. Ericka, a retired Marine, had shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself. The incident occurred just hours before Akili was scheduled to fly back to Bogota, Colombia, where she lived with her father, also a retired Marine. Akili had been visiting her mother for the holidays.
The discovery of the bodies was made by a family member early in the morning. Ericka's brother, Tony Williams, received the devastating news and mentioned that there had been minor changes in Ericka's behavior, but nothing that indicated such a tragic outcome. Neighbors also reported seeing Ericka closing hurricane shutters on her windows the night before, which they found unusual.
The investigation by the Fort Lauderdale Police revealed that there were no prior warning signs or significant distress that could have predicted the murder-suicide. Both Ericka and her ex-husband had shared custody of Akili and maintained a good relationship. The family and community were left in shock, struggling to understand the motive behind Ericka's actions. There were no arrests or suspects involved, as the case was concluded to be a murder-suicide with Ericka being the perpetrator. The tragic event highlighted the challenges some military personnel face when transitioning back to civilian life, though Ericka was believed to be coping well by her family.
