He killed his ex-wife and her four-year-old daughter in Florida because the girl wasn't his
A 34-year-old woman and her four-year-old daughter were found shot to death in their apartment in Ocala, Florida. The suspect took his own life.
A woman and her young daughter were shot to death in an Ocala, Florida, apartment complex in a case authorities are investigating as a double homicide followed by suicide.
The victims were identified as Nancy Bacon, 34, and the girl, Eden Ava Barker Wickramarachchi, 4 years old. Both were found dead Wednesday night in their home located in the Marion Springs condominiums, after neighbors reported hearing gunshots.
Witnesses told police that, after the shots, they saw Nancy's ex-husband, Ralph Bacon, 38, leaving the scene in an SUV with North Carolina license plates.
Chase and suicide
The vehicle was located shortly afterward by authorities in Georgia, just after crossing the state line. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the suspect shot himself inside the car and died at the scene, authorities said.
Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said the investigation is ongoing to fully clarify what happened.
“Challenging” Relationship and Background
Nancy and Ralph married when she was 17 and divorced in 2016. However, according to authorities, they had recently reconnected during the holidays, and he had moved back into the apartment in December.
Balken described the relationship as “challenging” and “fluctuating,” indicating that the term “estranged” is used loosely to describe their current situation.
While family members have indicated that the child was a point of contention in the relationship, police said there are no prior reports of domestic violence between the couple in Ocala.
However, authorities confirmed that Ralph Bacon had a prior arrest in Georgia due to terrorist threats.
Community in shock
Jeremy Christensen, neighbor and friend of Nancy,She told a local news outlet that she had expressed concerns about Ralph just a week before the tragedy. "He gave me a very strange feeling," she said. Chief Balken emphasized that domestic violence cases are "extremely difficult to predict and prevent."There are family members left behind who will want answers. We will do everything we can to give them those answers," he stated. In a statement, the Ocala Police Department said, "Our hearts go out to the family, loved ones, and everyone affected by this senseless act of violence. The loss of Nancy Bacon and her young daughter is devastating." The investigation into the case remains open.