In the quiet community of Elkhart, Indiana, a devastating series of events unfolded, culminating in the tragic loss of 31-year-old Susana Alvarez. A Hispanic female, she was discovered deceased on Saturday, March 25, 2017, in a parked minivan not far from the mobile home she shared with her partner and their five children. The grim discovery was made after friends and family grew concerned, having not heard from the couple since the previous evening.
Authorities arriving at the scene on
Edgewood Drive found both Alvarez and her 38-year-old partner, Alberto Avelino, inside the vehicle. Subsequent autopsies confirmed that both had died from single gunshot wounds to the head. The investigation by the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide. The coroner ruled Susana Alvarez's death a homicide, while Alberto Avelino's was determined to be a suicide. Evidence recovered from the minivan, including the firearm used in both deaths, supported the investigators' conclusion.
With the perpetrator deceased, there were no arrests made or suspects sought in connection with Alvarez's death. The authorities did not release a possible motive for the tragic events. The community was left to mourn the loss, with a vigil held for the couple where their children placed crosses in the ground. A GoFundMe page was established to help with funeral expenses and to provide support for the five children who were left in the care of relatives.
