Father and daughter left their Mississippi residence on February 28, 2026, to satisfy somebody they contacted via Fb Market, however the journey turned lethal after they had been each shot and killed.
The our bodies of the daddy and daughter had been found inside their work van off a rural highway in Sardis, a city round 50 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, after the police responded to what initially appeared as a single-vehicle crash.
In response to their household, Victor Gonzalez, 42, and his daughter Serenity Gonzalez, 19, had been about to buy a gaming console on the day they had been killed. The police mentioned the tracks left by their car counsel that the 2 tried to flee earlier than the tragedy passed off.
Jessie Waterman, 15, the son of Victor and the brother of Serenity, spoke to a number of media retailers and mentioned he didn’t know precisely whom his father and sister had been assembly relating to the Play Station 5 they had been planning to buy. Talking to WREG, Jessie mentioned he believes his father and sister fell victims of a setup.
In an interview with Memphis-based ABC affiliate WATN, Jessie defined that “one thing should’ve occurred with the transaction,” suggesting it could have been “a rip-off.” Concerning the situation the place his family members had been found, he mentioned he believes “they had been making an attempt to flee based mostly on the tracks on the highway and the mud on the aspect of the van.”
In response to investigators, the killings passed off both Saturday, February 28, 2026, or Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Residents of the place the place the capturing occurred clarify that River Highway, the place the father-daughter car was positioned, is much from busy and would solely be used if folks already understand it exists.
“It’s bought homes up that finish and homes up the opposite finish, however only a few in between,” neighbor Connie Donahou mentioned. “It’s not an actual busy highway, however if you happen to dwell round right here, you already know about this highway. You just about should dwell round right here to find out about this highway.”
Victor labored as an electrician and his daughter labored alongside him. In response to Jessie, they had been each hardworking and primarily took jobs within the Memphis space.
Their tragic deaths left their household surprise why somebody would wish to harm them.
“If I used to be to ask a query it might be, why? All of this, it doesn’t make any sense [sic],” Jessie mentioned, in accordance with WREG Information.
“Everyone is in shock and disbelief. However we’re additionally grieving on the identical time as a result of all of it occurred the entire sudden [sic],” he added.
Panola County Sheriff Shane Phelps confirmed he spoke to the victims’ household however refused to offer any particulars about what may very well be presumably happening earlier than the capturing passed off. He added that they’re actively engaged on the case.
Up to now, little info has been revealed about who the potential suspect may very well be, and no motive has been recognized.
For now, all that may be performed is wait and hope that somebody comes ahead with info that can make clear how a easy on-line buy can develop into a lethal crime.
The tragedy in Mississippi will not be an remoted incident. A whole lot of miles away, one other investigation is going down which might level to a disturbing sample linked to meetups organized via on-line marketplaces.
On Sunday night time, in any other case quiet residential avenue in Colombia, Missouri, changed into a criminal offense scene after a capturing incident that left a person in essential situation. The investigation revealed similarities to different violent encounters related to on-line market transactions.
Police had been referred to as to the 1400 block of Ridgemont Court docket shortly after 8 p.m. on January 18, 2026, after experiences of gunshots within the space. Upon arriving on the scene, they discovered a 42-year-old man with gunshots wounds. He was transported to the hospital the place he later died.
The person was later recognized as Michael Ryan Burke, a Columbia resident and Marine Corps veteran.
A few days following the tragic capturing, the police arrested 4 suspects, two males, a girl, and a juvenile. The grownup suspects had been recognized as 18-year-old Alexis Baumann of Hallsville, 18-year-old Kobe Aust of Columbia, and 18-year-old Joseph Crane of Columbia. Police say that each Baumann and Aust had been arrested on suspicion of second-degree homicide, first-degree theft, and first-degree housebreaking. Crane is being charged with the identical crimes in addition to further prices of armed prison motion and the illegal use of weapons. The juvenile has been arrested on comparable prices.
In response to Individuals, the capturing was linked to a deliberate Fb Market deal involving a cellphone.
Authorities revealed that Michael was arranging to promote his iPhone 15 Professional for $585 on Fb Market. After he shared his residence tackle with the potential purchaser, he acquired a textual content message round 8 p.m. saying, “I’m right here.”
Not lengthy after, the police answered a name about capturing and located Michael injured inside his residence. Regardless of his accidents, he was nonetheless capable of name for assist. Throughout his closing moments, he despatched a textual content message to his mom and sister, telling them goodbye.
“He texted them saying that, ‘hey, I’m dying and I really like you,’” mentioned Jerry Reifeiss, who knew Michael for greater than 20 years. “That was simply Ryan. He all the time put folks in entrance of him and wished to verify folks knew how he felt.”
Within the days earlier than Michael’s dying, the suspects tried two different iPhone robberies involving Fb Market.
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