Olivia Piccolo, 29, is grappling with profound grief and anger after discovering her two young children, 5-year-old Aria and 7-year-old Remy, dead in their father Joseph Dingwall's Cocoa, Florida home. Police are investigating the incident as a murder-suicide, with Dingwall, 37, suspected of killing the children before ending his own life.
Piccolo shared her anguish in an online post directed at Dingwall, stating, “You were supposed to be their protector. Their provider. One of their safe places. I’m so angry.” She expressed the depth of her loss, reflecting on how her life changed the moment she became a mother and vowing her children would be remembered for who they were.
"I will always love you and I promise you will be remembered for who you both are not by what happened,” she wrote of Aria and Remy. Piccolo also shared a desire to see her children “running around, destroying things, making huge messes,” indicating her longing for their presence.
Neighbors reported hearing two gunshots around midnight on Wednesday, approximately 12 hours before the tragic discovery was made. The motive and the precise circumstances leading to the event remain unclear. Cheryl Trimmer, Dingwall's grandmother, expressed shock, telling Florida Today that Dingwall was a "wonderful person" who loved his children and that they generally had a good relationship.
Fundraisers described Remy as a "strong, kind and intelligent young boy who loved his video games, music and friends," while Aria was remembered as "bright, courageous, and compassionate."
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.