A custody battle ended with a devastating ruling, but just hours later a 4-year-old girl was killed in a shooting involving her mother.
Cibelle Savella, 35, had been involved in a lengthy custody dispute with her ex-husband, Aaron Savella, over their daughter, Vivian. On Sept. 29, a judge awarded Aaron primary custody of the 4-year-old and ordered Cibelle's visits to be supervised.
The ruling came just hours before the deadly shooting. Cibelle was supposed to hand Vivian over to her father that evening, but the custody transfer never happened.
Police responded to the family's home around 5:45 p.m. after reports of gunfire. Officers found Vivian with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Cibelle was also found suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Cibelle initially survived but died from her injuries the following day. Authorities are investigating the deaths as an apparent murder-suicide.
Court records show the custody ruling placed significant restrictions on Cibelle. Her contact with Vivian was ordered to be supervised, she was restricted from attending the girl's school activities, and she was ordered to pay child support and medical expenses. The reasons behind the court's restrictions have not been fully disclosed in public reporting.
Vivian's father and relatives are now mourning the little girl. In a statement released through the family's attorneys, they said Vivian was supposed to return to her father that evening and described her as deeply loved.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.