In a crime that shocked the Brevard County community, four people, including a teenage girl, were shot and killed in a home in Canaveral Groves.
The man accused of this heinous act was not a stranger.
He was a father to the teenage victim, and an ex-partner to another victim.
This heartbreaking case has left a community in mourning, while investigators and prosecutors work to bring justice.
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| Domenico Gigante |
Family Ties Turn Deadly
At the center of this tragic event is 36-year-old Domenico Gigante, who had a history of violence.
His criminal history, which included domestic violence and animal abuse dating back to 2005.
These crimes portrayed him as a man with a violent streak, yet he continued to walk free.
Domenico Gigante had previously been in a relationship with 35-year-old Constance Terwilliger.
Together they had a daughter together named Kiarra Terwilliger.
After their relationship ended, Domenico reportedly struggled to reconnect with his daughter Kiarra.
However, she had refused his attempts at building any kind of relationship.
This rejection sadly set the stage for the series unbelievable and shocking events that later occurred in 2023.
A Chilling Night: The Murders Unfold
On March 1, 2023, 15-year-old Kiarra Terwilliger, her mother, Constance Terwilliger and her grandmother, Glenda Terwilliger, 63, were all found dead in their family home.
Michael Watson, 36, who was living in the house, was also a victim of the horrific crime.
Kiarra, along with the others, was shot in cold blood by the very man who should have been a protector.
According to investigators, around 1.a.m on that fateful day, Domenico Gigante left his Rockledge home.
He drove to the victims' residence on Alan Shepard Avenue in Canaveral Groves.
Gigante entered the house, where he shot and killed the four victims in quick succession.
Investigators later revealed that he had broken into the house and waited for the perfect time before committing the murders.
Kiarra and her grandmother, Glenda, were found lifeless in their beds.
Her mother, Constance and Michael were found on the living room floor, surrounded by bloody footprints.
Two other children, aged 6 and 9, were in the house at the time of the shooting but, miraculously, were unharmed.
They were found by a man who had been contacted by one of the children from inside the home.
When he arrived at the scene, he discovered the bodies of the victims and called the police.
Unraveling the Motive: What Drove a Father to Kill?
The investigation into this crime quickly pointed to Domenico Gigante.
Witnesses, including Gigante’s roommate, painted a disturbing picture of the hours leading up to the crime.
Just before the murders, Gigante, frustrated and angry, reportedly told his roommate, "I guess I’m going to go over there and kill them all."
Surveillance footage later confirmed that Gigante left his house with a firearm shortly before the murders and returned less than an hour later.
The motive appeared to be deeply personal.
Gigante had been trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, but Kiarra had refused to have a relationship with him.
His anger over this rejection, combined with his troubled history and violent tendencies, may have pushed him to commit the unthinkable.
Prosecutors described the murders as "cold, calculated, and premeditated," indicating that Gigante's actions were planned and deliberate.
Justice on the Horizon: The Legal Battle Begins
Shortly after the killings, Gigante was arrested by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.
He was held without bond and charged with four counts of first-degree premeditated murder.
The State of Florida filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty, a clear indication of the severity of the crime.
Prosecutors emphasized that the murders lacked any moral or legal justification.
At a press conference, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey expressed his outrage
“This individual should have never been out on our streets where he could harm someone else,” he said.
He believed that this crime could have been prevented had the justice system dealt with Gigante’s earlier convictions more effectively.
The prosecution’s case is strong, with multiple witnesses, surveillance footage, and Gigante’s own confession to his roommate as key evidence.
For the surviving family members and the two children who were spared, life will never be the same.
As we look forward to the trial, the focus now shifts to securing justice for the victims, and ensuring that Domenico Gigante is held accountable for the devastation he caused.
The state is seeking a death penalty as the befitting punishment for his crime.
By doing so, they are sending a strong message that such acts of violence will not go unpunished.
This reflects their commitment to justice.
The road to justice may be long, but it is a necessary step in bringing closure to this heart-wrenching case.
In another case, a husband and wife have been charged with conspiring to murder the man she was having an affair with.
Find more details on the case here.
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