In February 1988 Julio and Martha Alonso left their home on Palisade Avenue in West New York, the New Jersey suburb immediately across from Manhattan and the Hudson River, and moved to the house they had lived in for the past 37 years at 16 Pinelynn Lane in Palm Coast.
This morning, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office reported that it was investigating an apparent murder-suicide at the Pinelynn Lane house.
The Alonsos’ son, who lives in Miami, had requested Wednesday evening around 6:40 p.m. that a deputy conduct a welfare check at the house, having been unable to reach either by phone or text. He told the sheriff’s office that his mother sufered from dementia and had had a fall the previous day.
Once on scene, a hospice nurse provided entry into the home, where deputies located the married couple, deceased in their bedroom, according to a sheriff’s release. The preliminary investigation indicates that the husband shot his wife then took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot. Julio Alonso was 85, Martha Alonso, was 74.
A neighbor told detectives they last saw the couple leaving for the hospital on Tuesday.
“While we are still in the early stages of this investigation, the evidence located inside the home and witness interviews strongly indicate that this is a tragic murder-suicide,” Sheriff Rick Staly was quoted as saying. “Losing a parent is never easy but losing both parents to what appears to be a murder-suicide is unimaginable. Our condolences and prayers go out to this couple’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time. May God rest their souls.”
The deceased have been transported to the medical examiner’s office in St. Augustine, and the investigation continues by the Sheriff’s Office’s Major Case and CSI units.
The last murder-suicide in Palm Coast dates back to 2011.
The following resources are available for individuals in crisis:
In Flagler: The Crisis Triage and Treatment Unit (CTTU) is a crisis assessment and referral service for Flagler County residents experiencing behavioral health crisis. It is located at 301 Justice Lane in the Brown & Brown Outpatient building at the Vince Carter Sanctuary in Bunnell. This program is limited to individuals escorted to the program by law enforcement between the hours of noon and midnight daily. Law enforcement is able to transport individuals to SMA to assess and determine the appropriate clinical disposition. When required and appropriate, SMA then transports the individual to a receiving facility in Volusia County.
In Daytona Beach: Stewart-Marchman Act Corporation Crisis Center
1220 Willis Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Crisis Line: (800) 539 – 4228
Available 24 hours.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800/273-8255 (TALK), or use the online Lifeline Crisis Chat, both available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255.
People 60 and older can call the Institute on Aging’s 24-hour, toll-free Friendship Line at 800-971-0016. IOA also makes ongoing outreach calls to lonely older adults.
If you are concerned for someone else, read about warning signs here. For additional resources, see the Speaking of Suicide website.
R.S. says
To avoid desperate events such as this one, the Florida legislature should complete work and pass the Death with Dignity bill that is still stuck in committee. Status in 2025: Bills Do Not Advance. H471 is introduced and referred to the House Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee. S1700, a companion bill to H471, is introduced. S1700 is referred to the Judiciary, Health Policy, and Fiscal Policy Committees. Both bills die in committee after missing the House and Senate deadlines.
Morgan Monaco says
Absolutly nothing new, they are not the only one, result of no aide, CEO insurances greedy, medecine over priced, US very high cost health care
Laurel says
What is “unimaginable” is Alzheimer’s. This sad story is repeated frequently, and it’s a very hard place, to be the caretaker of a person with dementia, when the caretaker is an elderly person himself, or herself. It is no one’s place to judge.
What is really disturbing to me is, our current administration is holding our universities hostage for payment instead of using the money for research. Research grants have been pulled. Science has been given a bad name, which is absurd as well as destructive. Research is vital in reducing, or eliminating, diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Be aware, that early unset of Alzheimer’s starts in a person in their 40’s. Stay on top of it. Eat healthy foods such as blueberries and green, leafy vegetables. Exercise, and challenge your brains.
Erod says
You blame the current Administration for the “shutdown” ; last I heard Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries with the rest of the blind obedience Democratic caucus were not part of the administration.
Maybe if the Democrats cared more about the sick and elderly in this country they would be so hopped up on giving millions to Haitian male prostitutes to learn ballroom dancing. The same democrats who “BLIND FAITH” voted NO on orders from the leaders
Laurel says
Erod: Actually, you had me agreeing until you mentioned Democrats giving millions of dollars to, and teaching Haitian male prostitutes to ballroom dance! WTF? Would you please elaborate with facts and your sources? This should be interesting.
Laurel says
Yeah, now back to reality. My condolences to the family. The pain is deep. Their hardship is over. So sad this country does little to help support the elderly.
R.S. says
That is preposterously absurd, Erod. The Trump-GOP is giving away millions to the Argentinian weirdo with the chainsaw and trillions into the pockets of the upper 1%. I am sure that the unpaid governmental workers and the high cost of health insurance were tugging on Democrats’ consciences while–obviously–Trump is not even in touch with anything like a conscience.
Joe D says
Pierre:
Would you check that link to Flagler lifeline website in your article? When I click on it , it goes to a blank white screen. It might just be my phone ( or ME) , but I wanted to put it in my list of Flagler area Community Resources. Possibly others are interested too.
Thank you for including the other resources. When people get desperate, they frequently THINK there is no other way out…having someone to just LISTEN…even without a large resource list to offer, can still make all the difference in changing someone’s mind when they are desperate.
I learned that while I was a part time SUBSTITUTE COUNSELOR for a TEEN Crisis Center for a teen runaway shelter, and covered their Crisis Hotline.
My condolences for the extended family and friends of this couple.
T says
Sorry to family and friends
Gus E Ajram says
May God rest their souls. My condolences and prayers to the family, Jr and the Grandchildren. Julio my dear and awesome friend rest in peace.
Pogo says