ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A Florida man has been charged with the murders of his girlfriend and her mother in a tragic incident that unfolded over the weekend.
Authorities have identified the accused as Kirk Hysell Jr., 41, facing two counts of first-degree murder following the deaths of 34-year-old Christina Donzero and her 75-year-old mother, Betti “Suzanne” Thevenet Donzero.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office reports that the sequence of events leading to the arrest began when Hysell’s daughter received a troubling phone call from her father on Saturday morning around 10 a.m. During the call, Hysell allegedly confessed to committing the murders, prompting his daughter to alert authorities.
Deputies quickly arrived at the residence on the 5200 block of 108th Street North, only to find a grim scene. Christina Donzero was discovered in a bedroom, having sustained multiple stab wounds, while her mother was found in the garage with similar injuries. Both women were declared dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.
Hysell, who also resided at the home, was discovered in a bathroom suffering from what appeared to be several self-inflicted injuries.
He was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. During an interview, Hysell allegedly confessed again to the murders, expressing intentions to harm other family members and indicating he might repeat such acts if given the chance.
The motive behind these shocking killings remains unclear as investigators continue to piece together what led up to the violent outburst. Although a probable cause affidavit has not been made public, authorities confirm that Hysell will be moved to the Pinellas County Jail once he is discharged from medical care.
The community has been left reeling as they grapple with the brutal incident that claimed the lives of two residents. Detectives remain at work to uncover more details, promising to release further information as the investigation unfolds.