Miami, Florida – A tragic incident unfolded outside a bank in Southwest Miami-Dade when a mother and her three-year-old son lost their lives in what authorities have classified as a murder-suicide. The heartbreaking event took place near a drive-thru ATM at a Chase branch early Friday morning.
Reports indicate that an off-duty police sergeant was in the vicinity of the Meadows shopping plaza when he heard gunshots at approximately 7:40 am. Upon investigation, he came across a minivan in the parking lot with three individuals – a woman, a man, and a toddler – all found deceased inside with the vehicle’s doors ajar, with an unidentified SUV nearby.
The Miami-Dade Police quickly responded to the scene and provided updates during a briefing later that day. Detective Luis Sierra revealed that they suspect the man was driving the SUV, while the woman was operating the minivan that tragic morning.
Tragically, it is believed that the man approached the woman’s vehicle while she was at the ATM, leading to a fatal shooting that claimed the lives of both the woman, identified as Odalys Maria Bancroft, 43, and her young son, Theodore Couto, 3. The suspect, whose motives remain unknown, took his own life as well.
Family members shared poignant details about Bancroft, mentioning that she was en route to drop her son off at daycare prior to the devastating incident. Described as a highly skilled nurse and the regulatory affairs director for Jackson Health System, Bancroft’s sudden and tragic loss has left loved ones reeling.
Theodore, who had recently graduated from pre-k, was fondly remembered by his father’s family. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been initiated to aid with funeral expenses, with Jennifer Couto expressing the profound sorrow felt by all those who knew and loved the bright young boy.
As authorities continue their investigation into this heartbreaking tragedy, the community mourns the loss of Odalys Maria Bancroft and young Theodore Couto. The devastating impact of such a senseless act reverberates, leaving loved ones grappling with profound grief and unanswered questions.