On March 1, 2023, a tragic and violent incident occurred in Canaveral Groves, Florida, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including 63-year-old Glenda Terwilliger. The incident began early in the morning when Domenico Gigante, a 36-year-old man from Rockledge, broke into a residence on Alan Shepard Avenue. Gigante, who had a previous relationship with Constance Terwilliger and was the father of 15-year-old Kiara Terwilliger, had grown increasingly frustrated over his strained
relationship with his daughter.
Gigante shot and killed four people inside the home: Glenda Terwilliger, Kiara's grandmother; Constance Terwilliger, Kiara's mother and Gigante's ex-girlfriend; Michael Watson, 36, who was also living in the home; and Kiara Terwilliger herself. Glenda Terwilliger was found shot in the head while lying in her bed.
The discovery of the bodies was made after one of the two surviving children, aged 6 and 9, made a video call to a family friend, describing the horrific events that had transpired. This call led authorities to the scene, where they found the four victims dead and the two young children unharmed.
Domenico Gigante was identified as the suspect through various leads and evidence. He was arrested later that day in Rockledge and charged with four counts of first-degree premeditated murder, as well as aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Gigante is currently being held at the Brevard County Jail without the possibility of bond. A grand jury later indicted him on these charges, which could qualify him for the death penalty if convicted.
The motive behind the killings was attributed to Gigante's increasing frustration and failure to rebuild his relationship with his daughter. His roommate had reported that Gigante had expressed his intent to harm the family, stating, “I guess I’m going to go over there and kill them all,” just a day before the incident.
The community was left stunned by the violence, with Sheriff Wayne Ivey describing Gigante as an "extremely violent individual" with a history of violence dating back to 2005. The two surviving children were reunited with other family members, and grief counselors were dispatched to Cocoa Jr./Sr. High School, where Kiara was a student.
