SANFORD, FLORIDA: On the morning of October 20, Catorreia Hutto, aged 31, tragically leaped to her death from a bridge. Following the identification, authorities performed a well-being check at her residence, revealing the lifeless bodies of her 5-year-old twins, Ahmad and Ava Jackson, in their bunk beds.

Death of Catorreia Hutto and her twins is apparent case of murder-suicide: Police

A driver dialed 911 to report authorities about a woman who had parked her silver vehicle on the SR 417 bridge, exited the car through the passenger side window, and then leaped into Lake Jesup.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call at around 8.45 am.

Sheriff Dennis M Lemma told reporters that when the deputies arrived, they immediately observed the woman in the water. With the assistance of two fishermen, one of whom was a retired Seminole County Firefighter, they successfully retrieved the body, reported the New York Post.

Hutto was declared deceased at the scene, according to the sheriff's office. When the authorities went to her home after learning that she was the mother of 5-year-old twins, they discovered the little boy and girl dead in their beds. The police stated that both children had special needs.

Authorities found a firearm in the bedroom; however, there were no indications of gunshot wounds or physical injuries, such as blunt force trauma, on the children's bodies, as stated by Lemma.

“If (the deputies) did not check the vital signs, they would not know that they had been deceased,” the sheriff said.

The medical examiner’s office is yet to determine a cause of death.

Catorreia Hutto had no criminal history

Hutto's present residence was a Habitat for Humanity project finalized in 2022. No calls had been made to this location. Lemma mentioned that the interior had minimal food and furniture.

She was employed at a temporary employment agency and had been there until a few days ago.

According to the sheriff, it was uncertain whether Hutto was facing financial difficulties. The twins were last present at school on October 13, as per his statement.

During the night of October 19, Hutto attempted to reach her mother, who resides in Perry but was in Orlando for a medical procedure.

The mother informed investigators that she presumed one of the twins had accidentally interacted with the phone, as Hutto did not leave a voicemail.

The father of the child is believed to be staying in South Florida.