Mother Discovers Children Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide During Custody Handover

A grieving mother has expressed her anguish after discovering her two young children dead in their father's home in Cocoa, Florida, during a custody handover on Wednesday. Olivia Piccola told police she went to pick up her seven-year-old son, Remy, and five-year-old daughter, Aria, at the residence of their father, Joseph Dingwall, 37. After being unable to contact Dingwall, Piccola went to the home and found the front door ajar.

Authorities stated that she discovered her children shot to death inside the home, alongside their father. The Cocoa Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, which they suspect may be a murder-suicide.

In the days following the tragedy, Piccola shared her profound grief on social media. In one Facebook post, she appeared to address Dingwall, writing, "I'm still in shock. You were supposed to be their protector. Their provider. One of their safe places. I'm so angry." She added, "But my anger will never ever outweigh my love for my children." She further expressed her pride in being their mother and vowed they would be remembered for who they were.

Piccola also shared the difficulty of facing everyday reminders of her loss, describing finding her children's laundry untouched since Tuesday. She wrote that seeing their belongings, like tiny socks and underwear, was initially unbearable but that her children had given her the strength to persevere.

Neighbors reported hearing what sounded like gunshots approximately 12 hours before police were called to the scene. One neighbor, Marcos Garcia, told WESH 2 that he heard "Two clear gunshots" around 12:20 a.m. However, police confirmed that no 911 calls were received around that time, and it remains unclear if the sounds originated from the involved residence.

Cocoa Police Department Chief Evander Collier IV stated that officers had been dispatched to the home 11 times since 2021 for various reasons, including medical calls and suspicious activities. Specific details regarding these previous calls were not immediately available.

Police indicated that security camera footage from a neighbor's property may show Dingwall outside the home around the time the shots were heard. The investigation into the fatal incident is ongoing.

Fundraising efforts have been initiated to help Piccola with funeral expenses for Remy and Aria. A GiveSendGo fundraiser described the children as "two very precious and deeply loved children." Remy, who was nearly eight years old, is remembered as a "fierce protector of his little sister and his mother." A GoFundMe page has also been established to support the family and honor the children.