Tamarac, Fla. — In a chilling sequence of events leading to a horrific triple homicide, Mary Gingles, a 34-year-old Florida woman, had repeatedly contacted police to express fears about her safety just weeks before her death. Tragically, her estranged husband, Nathan Gingles, 43, is now facing charges related to her murder, the murder of her father, David Ponzer, 64, and their neighbor, Andrew Ferrin, 36.
On the morning of February 16, the quiet of Tamarac was shattered by a report of gunshots. Responding officers discovered Ponzer deceased in his backyard. The search quickly led to Ferrin’s home where Mary and Ferrin were found dead. According to reports, in the tense lead-up to these killings, Mary had desperately sought legal protection from Nathan, with whom she had a strained and turbulent relationship.
Weeks prior to the tragic incident, police logs revealed that Mary had voiced concerns about her safety to law enforcement officials. She had found a backpack in her garage, which she worried was left by Nathan, containing items like plastic restraints, duct tape, and zip ties. This alarming discovery prompted her to pursue a restraining order, emphasizing the severity of her fears.
Despite 14 calls to the authorities, including urgent requests for updates on her restraining order, Nathan was not apprehended. Had these pleas been fully acted upon, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony later lamented, this tragedy could potentially have been averted. “This death is on my watch,” Tony frankly admitted, acknowledging the missteps made that possibly could have prevented these murders.
In the aftermath of these events, Nathan Gingles was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, along with charges including violating a protective order, interfering with custody, child abuse, kidnapping, burglary, and child neglect. He has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
A protective order found in the Gingles’ home confirmed that Nathan was barred from any contact with Mary or their 4-year-old daughter, Seraphine, yet on the day of the murders, Seraphine was found miles away in North Lauderdale with Nathan. Luckily, she was unharmed and quickly located by authorities.
The grim scene was first noticed by a neighbor, Adolfo Lang, who reported hearing loud bangs and seeing Mary frantically knocking on his door early that morning. Security footage captured by Lang showed a distressed Mary running, followed closely by a man believed to be Nathan, armed and in close proximity to a small, barefoot child.
In light of these events, the Broward County Sheriff’s Department took internal actions, suspending eight deputies with pay during the ongoing investigation.
This tragedy underscores the critical role of law enforcement in adequately responding to threats and the somber responsibilities involved in handling domestic violence complaints. In the wake of this heartbreaking incident, community members and authorities alike are prompted to reflect on measures to better protect vulnerable individuals from such devastating outcomes.
For those experiencing similar threats or concerns, it is urged they reach out to appropriate services such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, which provide crucial support and aid to those in need.