Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony announced Wednesday that he suspended seven deputies over the mishandling of a domestic violence case that ended in a tragic triple homicide.
Tony said his deputies failed to act despite multiple domestic violence calls made by victim Mary Gingles before she was murdered along with her father, 64-year-old David Ponzer, and neighbor, Andrew Ferrin, 36, last weekend.
Mary’s husband, 43-year-old Nathan Gingles, was arrested at a Walmart after kidnapping his 4-year-old daughter.
“This was a domestic violence incident that turned catastrophically bad. We fell short,” Tony said at Wednesday's press conference.
“There was enough evidence where we could have potentially pursued a probable cause affidavit to arrest him and take him off the street.”
Mary Gingles, 34, expressed fears for her safety and that of her daughter citing her estranged husband’s threats, aggressive tendencies, and possession of firearms.
“To those mothers and women out there who think that we’re going to drop the ball and this is a consistent pattern, know this: When we rectify this situation, I’m going to send the fear of God amongst this entire agency to make damn sure we don’t do this again,” the sheriff added.
