FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Local authorities are actively seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle stolen from an elderly couple who were tragically found murdered in their residence.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department reissued a bulletin on Thursday, urgently calling for information regarding a red 2014 Ford Fusion. The vehicle belonged to Major Melvin, 89, and his wife Claudette, 87, who were discovered dead in their home last Friday. The car, bearing the Florida license plate LTDQ16, is believed to have been taken by the perpetrator.
While the authorities have refrained from sharing extensive details about the shooting, the couple’s daughter, Tonya Mitchell, shared some insights with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. According to Mitchell, investigators informed her that the assailant entered through the front door, a fact she found peculiar as her parents were known for keeping their front door locked, preferring to have guests enter through the back.
Mitchell disclosed that her father was shot while asleep on the living room couch and it seems her mother was shot when she emerged from the bedroom. The couple’s son, who has special needs and was present during the incident, was unharmed but has been unable to provide any information.
Interestingly, the only item reported stolen was the car. Other valuables, including Claudette’s purse and the couple’s cellphones, were left untouched. Mitchell, who was in North Carolina at the time of the incident, expressed her disbelief, stating that her parents had no known enemies and that she could not fathom why anyone would want to harm them.
A police spokesperson refrained from confirming any details in a statement on Thursday. Mitchell was unreachable for further comment.