A Florida man is facing three counts of first-degree murder following an Amber Alert issued for his young daughter. 43-year-old Nathan Gingles was taken into custody after the bodies of his daughter's mother, grandfather, and a neighbor were discovered in Tamarac, Florida. The 4-year-old girl, Seraphine Gingles, was found safe.
The incident began Sunday morning with reports of a shooting. David Ponzer, 64, Seraphine's grandfather, was found with a fatal gunshot wound. The subsequent disappearance of Seraphine triggered a statewide Amber Alert. Authorities believed she was with her father, Nathan Gingles, and possibly her mother, Mary Gingles, 34. The alert indicated they were traveling in a silver BMW X3 with a Texas license plate.
Gingles and Seraphine were located a few hours later in North Lauderdale. The child was unharmed. Initially, Gingles was arrested for violating a no-contact order with Seraphine and her mother. Tragically, Mary Gingles and Andrew Ferrin, 36, were later found deceased from gunshot wounds in a separate Tamarac residence.
A firearm, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered from a nearby canal. Gingles is currently incarcerated in Fort Lauderdale, facing three counts of premeditated first-degree murder, along with charges related to violating the no-contact order and custody interference. Ferrin, identified as a neighbor, was reportedly shot while attempting to assist Mary Gingles. Court documents reveal that the couple was undergoing divorce proceedings, and Nathan Gingles was subject to two domestic violence restraining orders.
Following the incident, seven Broward County Sheriff's deputies have been placed on leave pending an internal investigation into their handling of prior calls involving the Gingles family. Sheriff Gregory Tony acknowledged that opportunities to intervene may have been missed, stating a deputy who responded to a December call from Mary Gingles, where she claimed her husband threatened her life, potentially had sufficient grounds for an arrest. Sheriff Tony emphasized the importance of accountability and a thorough review of all prior interactions with the family.
