PLANTATION, FL – A man from Plantation is facing two counts of first-degree murder following the tragic deaths of his wife and young son. Jean Carlos Aponte, 40, is accused of fatally stabbing his wife, Sara Ashley Gama, and their 2-year-old son, Ethan Aponte, before attempting to take his own life through a drug overdose.
Court documents reveal that Gama’s father made a distressing 911 call on March 26 after finding his daughter’s lifeless body on the kitchen floor and Aponte unconscious in the master bedroom. The elderly man also reported his grandson missing. Responding officers found Gama with multiple stab wounds and slashes to her neck, while Ethan was later found drowned in the family’s pool.
Police reports indicate that Ethan had four stab wounds to his neck and defensive injuries on his hand. His death was attributed to a combination of sharp force injury and drowning. Gama suffered 28 stab wounds, with injuries concentrated on her face, neck, and abdomen. She also had fractures and defensive wounds, with her cause of death listed as sharp force injury.
Upon finding Aponte unconscious, police administered Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug, and rushed him to a hospital. He was stabilized and later faced his initial court hearing, where the judge ordered a mental health evaluation.
Aponte’s ex-wife, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke with the media and revealed his struggle with PTSD following his military service. She described their marriage as fraught with emotional and physical abuse, which escalated after they tied the knot. Despite seeking help for his mental health and reaching out to a veterans foundation, Aponte’s violent tendencies escalated, culminating in the tragic events of March 26.