On March 10, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Miami-Dade County, Florida, resulting in the deaths of a family of four, including 18-year-old Jason Penalba. The family resided in an apartment located at 17400 NW 68th Ave in northwest Miami-Dade.
The police investigation revealed that Victor Penalba Gonzalez, the 60-year-old father, fatally shot his wife, Yumara Martinez Morejon, 50, as well as their children, Jason Penalba, 18, and Stephanie Penalba, 13, before taking his own life.
The family had been dead for more than a week before their bodies were discovered by officers on Sunday, March 10, during a welfare check.
When police arrived at the apartment just after 9 p.m., they noticed a distinct foul odor emitting from the apartment. A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crew was called to assist officers in gaining entry into the home, where they found the four family members with apparent gunshot wounds.
Family members expressed shock and disbelief at the incident, highlighting concerns they had about the safety of Martinez and the children. According to relatives, Victor Penalba Gonzalez was described as super jealous and dominating, with a history of controlling behavior that made his children fear him. He had recently lost his job at the sanitation department in Hialeah a few weeks prior to the incident.
The investigation into the murder-suicide remains ongoing, with police continuing to gather details surrounding the events leading up to the tragic deaths. The community and family members are left grappling with the unimaginable actions of Victor Penalba Gonzalez and the devastating loss of his family.
