A Texas mother allegedly shot dead her four-year-old daughter in a murder-suicide hours after losing a custody battle with the girl’s father.
Cibelle Savella, 35, was expected to hand over her daughter, Vivian, to her ex-husband, Aaron Savella, on Tuesday night but instead allegedly shot the child at her $824,000 home in Houston before turning the gun on herself.
“There was a custody hearing earlier today that didn’t go well for the mother,” Houston Police Lieutenant Larry Crowson said on Friday.
“She came home, shot her 4-year-old, and then shot herself.”
Police said Savella died in hospital a day after she was rushed there following the shooting, despite efforts by medical personnel to save her.
Savella, who was originally from Brazil, divorced Aaron in November 2024 after four years of marriage, leading to a bitter legal battle over their daughter.
The girl’s surviving relatives said they were “devastated” by her death.
“Vivian was 4 years old. She was loved without limit by her father, Aaron, and by everyone whose life she touched. There are no words for what has been taken from us.
“Aaron did everything the law asks of a parent who is trying to protect his child. He trusted the courts.
“He followed every order. He waited for the process to work. On Tuesday, a judge placed Vivian in his primary care, and she was supposed to come home to him that evening. She never did.”