Police seek killer of mother, daughter
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Less than 24 hours after a mother and daughter were discovered dead inside a house on Santa Barbara Road in Orange County, deputies came back to the scene Tuesday morning. Detectives walked out with two large brown bags brown bags full of what could be potential evidence.
A woman who lives nearby, who asked not to be named in this story, says the third person who lives in the home came to her door looking for help. “He came and rung my doorbell, and he asked me to dial 911 for him, because he didn’t have a phone. He fell right there and he was crying. I started hollering, and I said, 'What is wrong with you?' He said, 'My girlfriend, my girlfriend, she’s on the bathroom floor!' He said, 'I left and when I came back and she’s dead!' I said, 'Dead?' He said, 'Yes, she’s dead!” the woman told FOX 35.
Deputies say the man left home around 7:45 Monday morning and returned home to discover the murders after 2 p.m. In total disbelief, another neighbor walked into the home while this woman talked to 911. “When she came out, she said, 'Oh my God! There’s two people in there! There’s a lot of blood!”
Deputies have identified the victims as 36-year-old Maria Sanchez and 16-year-old daughter Destiny Banuelos and say both died from gunshot wounds.
Sharnique Quarterman lives across the street. She is now wondering what she heard mid morning. “Yesterday, earlier while I was getting dressed, there was some noise. I heard, didn’t pay it any mind. I didn’t know what it was. It maybe lasted a minute-and-a-half or two minutes, and that was it,” said Quarterman.
Investigators say the third person who lives in the home with the victims has been very cooperative with the investigation. Right now detectives are trying to figure out a motive and who did it.
The family of the victims is hoping to send Sanchez and Banuelos to Portland, Oregon for burial. They have established a Go Fund Account to assist with expenses. You can learn more by clicking here.