BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – According to WPLG-Local 10 in South Florida, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony held a news conference Wednesday afternoon regarding a weekend triple murder case, announcing the suspension of several deputies after he said an internal probe revealed serious shortcomings.
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Nathan Gingles, 43, of Lauderhill, is accused of murdering his father-in-law, then his estranged wife and a neighbor on Sunday morning. Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies said he also kidnapped his young daughter — who witnessed the entire killing spree.
Tony said Wednesday that a preliminary probe revealed a “shortcoming of performance,” saying deputies missed opportunities in October and December to intervene in the ongoing domestic violence situation that would cost 34-year-old Mary Gingles and two others their lives.
The full press conference can be seen here on Local10.com
“It is clear...we fell short on this one,” Tony said during Wednesday’s news conference. He said seven deputies are suspended with pay: a lieutenant, two sergeants and four deputies. “It’s clear that some of the investigative practices conducted by detectives was also a shortfall, and so, as we continue to gather more facts on this, I’m going to end up back in front of this camera.”
Authorities said Nathan Gingles first killed father-in-law David Ponzer at the home of his estranged wife, Mary Gingles, at 5897 N. Plum Bay Parkway in Tamarac. Deputies said Nathan Gingles shot Ponzer, 64, in the head “while he innocently drank coffee on his back patio.”
Deputies said Mary Gingles, who witnessed the killing, ran away seeking help. She was a victim of domestic violence who had recently received an injunction against her estranged husband, authorities said.
Authorities said Nathan Gingles, with 4-year-old daughter Seraphine in tow, chased down Mary Gingles as she ran to the home of 36-year-old neighbor Andrew Ferrin at 5888 N. Plum Bay Parkway.
Deputies said Nathan Gingles shot both Mary Gingles and Ferrin. An arrest warrant states that investigators found both dead on the floor.
Nathan Gingles then took off with Seraphine, deputies said. The two would be later found Sunday afternoon at a North Lauderdale Walmart. Seraphine was unharmed.
Tony said a probe of past calls for service showed that Nathan Gingles could have been arrested after a domestic violence call in December, but he was not.
“There will be people who will lose their job(s) over this,” Tony said, calling the suspended deputies’ conduct “piss poor performance” and “bulls--t work.”
He said, “I’m focused on making sure that they don’t win a damn arbitration.”
BSO identified the deputies suspended as:
- Tamarac Lt. Michael Paparella, 50, a 28-year veteran
- Tamarac Sgt. Travis Allen, 45, an 18-year veteran
- Tamarac Sgt. Devoune Williams, 51, a 20-year veteran
- Tamarac Deputy ILany Ceballos, 27, a 5-year veteran
- Tamarac Deputy Brittney King, 29, a 5-year veteran
- Civil Division Deputy Joseph Sasso, 57, an 8-year veteran
- Dania Beach Deputy Daniel Munoz, 29, a 5-year veteran
In an arrest warrant released Tuesday, a BSO detective wrote that Allen, responding to the call Sunday, saw a man “clad in all-black clothing, including a black hooded sweatshirt and pants” walking with a “small female child who was without shoes.”
The detective wrote that Allen put out information about the man — later suspected to be Gingles — over the radio, but “due to the unknown circumstances of the call, deputies continued to canvass the area.”
Tony said, “This death is on my watch,” referring to Mary Gingles. “We had a chance to save their loved one’s life and we failed.”
Nathan Gingles faces a host of felony charges including three counts of first-degree murder. As of Wednesday, he was being held without bond at the BSO Main Jail.