Ocala double homicide: Man accused of killing estranged wife, child in Ocala dies in Georgia

Man accused of killing estranged wife, child in Ocala dies in Georgia

Police say a man accused of killing his estranged wife and her 4-year-old daughter in Ocala has died after a pursuit into Georgia.

OCALA, Fla. - Editor's note: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help and resources are available. Call or text 911 for emergencies. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-7233, by texting "START" to 88788, or online chat. 

A cross-state manhunt for a man suspected of killing a mother and daughter in Ocala ended in Georgia yesterday when the suspect was found dead following a police pursuit.

What we know:

Nancy Bacon, 34, and her four-year-old daughter, Eden, were found dead from gunshots at the Marion Springs Condominiums in Ocala. The Ocala Police Department responded to the condos around 9:15 p.m. on Feb. 10 on a shots-fired call reported by neighbors. 

Ocala Police update: Mom, daughter shot, killed inside condo | Full press conference

Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken shares on update on the shooting deaths of a mom and daughter. The shooting happened on Tuesday night at the Marion Springs Condominiums. Police responded after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. Police found a 4-year-old girl and her 34-year-old mom dead inside the unit. Police said the woman's estranged husband, identified as Ralph Bacon, 38, left the unit after the shooting and was later pulled over by Georgia authorities on I-97, 7 miles from the Florida state line. Police said Bacon was dead inside the vehicle.

Witnesses told police Nancy's estranged husband – who was later identified as Ralph Bacon, 38 – was seen leaving the complex. 

Police search for shooting suspect

After issuing a region-wide Be On The Lookout, officers located Ralph driving – with North Carolina plates – north toward the Florida-Georgia border. Police identified Ralph's vehicle through license plate readers. 

Nancy Bacon, 34, (left) was allegedly shot by her estranged husband Ralph Bacon, 38, in her condo in Ocala on Feb. 10, 2026. 

Georgia authorities responded to the call, spotting Ralph seven miles north of the Florida line and initiating a traffic stop in Kingsland, Georgia, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said during a Feb. 11 press conference. 

Ralph was found dead. He shot himself before the car came to a stop, Balken said. 

Who is Nancy Bacon? 

Friends and family of Nancy described her as being kind, generous, creative, artistic and a loving mother.

"She really was a light. And her daughter, she loved her daughter more than anything," Nancy's close friend Nicole Swope told FOX 35's Marie Edinger. 

The couple got married when Nancy was 16 years old. Ralph was 21. Nancy's mother told Edinger she was against her daughter's marriage to Ralph. The two divorced in 2016 before getting back together sometime during the holidays. 

"Never in a million years would I have expected him to do this to her and her baby," Swope said. 

2 found dead at Ocala condominium complex 

Who was Ralph Bacon? 

Ralph was on probation until July 2025 for threatening to kill someone and flashing a gun in Georgia, Edinger reported. Nancy's mom, Ola Ivie, called to report him to the probation office when she learned he was back in Florida because she feared he was dangerous, but he was already off probation, Edinger said. 

‘A challenging relationship’

Chief Balken described the relationship between Nancy and Ralph as "challenging," saying they split up and got back together several times. It wasn't until around Christmas this year that police believe Ralph moved into the apartment with Nancy. 

The four-year-old was not Ralph's biological daughter, which was a key issue in their relationship, police heard from witnesses, Balken said.

"There's no belief that he went there to kill them," he said. 

Additionally, police said there was no prior indication of violence between Ralph and Nancy before the incident, including no reported disturbances. 

"Domestic violence is one of those cases that is extremely difficult to predict. …. And because of that it's very difficult to prevent as well." 

What's next:

Ocala Police are continuing to investigate this incident.

"There are family members left behind that are going to want some answers," Balken said.