Early Friday morning, in a Sanford residence, law enforcement discovered the lifeless bodies of five-year-old twins. This tragic incident unfolded after their mother leapt into Lake Jesup from the State Road 417 bridge, as reported by Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma.
At around 9 a.m., a passerby alerted authorities about a vehicle parked on the State Road 417 bridge.
This witness observed a woman exiting the vehicle through the passenger side window and plunging into Lake Jesup, indicating a potential suicide attempt.
Shortly thereafter, investigators arrived at the scene and found the woman’s body in the water, along with two nearby fishermen.
With the assistance of these fishermen, one of whom was an off-duty Seminole County firefighter, deputies successfully retrieved the woman’s remains.
The deceased woman was identified as Catorreia Hutto, prompting a well-being check at her Alexander Avenue residence in Sanford.
Upon entering the home, investigators discovered a 5-year-old boy and girl in bunk beds. Initially assuming they were asleep, deputies sadly confirmed that the twins, Ahmed Jackson and Ava Jackson, had passed away.
While there were no apparent signs of physical harm, toxicology tests will be required to ascertain the cause of their demise.
Inside the residence, deputies noted the presence of a firearm and live rounds on the floor, but no spent cartridges were found.
Hutto’s mother had been in Orlando for a medical procedure during the previous week and was en route back to Perry, Florida, when she received a call from her daughter’s phone at around 10 p.m. on Thursday.
Not noticing the missed call until later, she didn’t return it, assuming it was an accidental dial.
Hutto’s mother informed investigators that her daughter had a history of depression, though no one suspected she was in such a desperate state as to be a danger to herself or others.
The home’s sparsity in terms of furnishings and provisions suggested possible financial hardship for the family.
Constructed in recent years through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, it was revealed that Hutto had been employed in clerical work for a temporary agency just days prior.
The twins, who had special needs, hadn’t attended school since October 13th, according to Lemma.
There was no previous record of violence at the residence, and the Florida Department of Children and Families had no prior involvement with Hutto.
