Florida missing married couple made pact to die together, deputies say
The Brief
In newly released details, deputies said they believe the missing Florida couple, whose bodies were found in the woods last year, had made a pact to die together.
Officials confirmed the bodies were positively identified as 25-year-old Claudia Pena Alvarez and her husband, 22-year-old Nicolas Alvarez, on April 23.
Reports show both Claudia and Nicolas Alvarez died from a gunshot wound to the head.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – In newly released details, police said they believe the missing Florida couple, whose bodies were found in the woods last year, had made a pact to die together.
Officials confirmed the bodies were positively identified as 25-year-old Claudia Pena Alvarez and her husband, 22-year-old Nicolas Alvarez, on April 23.
Reports show both Claudia and Nicolas Alvarez died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Claudia Pena Alvarez, 25, left, and Nicolas Alvarez, 22. (Credit: Ana Boza)
What happened to Claudia and Nicolas Alvarez?
The backstory
Police said construction workers working at 6901 Nova Road, Saint Cloud, observed an abandoned vehicle in the area of the construction site on April 19.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and connected the vehicle to a Kissimmee Police Department missing person investigation, reports show.
After a search of the area, officials said they found the dead bodies of two people. Authorities stated the Medical Examiner’s Office was notified and responded to the scene.
What we know
On April 23, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said they were told by the Medical Examiner’s Office that the remains found in the wooded area were positively identified as belonging to Claudia and Nicolas Alvarez, which also was consistent with the Kissimmee Police Department’s missing person’s investigation.
The investigation continued for several months, with officials working to confirm how and why the couple died.
What’s next
The Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of death for Claudia and Nicolas Alvarez was a gunshot wound to the head.
Officials believe Nicolas Alvarez died by suicide, but how Claudia Alvarez died still is undetermined.
However, deputies said they believe the couple agreed to meet at the location with a pact to die together.
Local perspective
According to the investigation, the case was an isolated incident, and no other people were involved.
Seek help
If you or a loved one may be at risk of suicide, here are resources that can help.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text to 741-741. You also can chat with a counselor via Instant Message by clicking here. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
Trevor Lifeline: Call 1-866-488-7386 for the TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community. Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also speak with someone over text or instant messaging.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to text confidentially with a trained crisis counselor. Counselors are available 24/7.
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline website offers information about risk factors and warning signs, as well as resources to help those in need.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
The Source
This story was written based on information shared by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and the Kissimmee Police Department.
#Florida #missing #married #couple #pact #die #deputies