Police said the couple had three young children and were going through a divorce.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A 6-year-old child came home from school May 11 and found both parents dead inside a Port St. Lucie home after an apparent murder-suicide, police said.
Officers identified the parents as Jimsley Estime, 31, and Ketsy Alexis, 30. They were found with apparent gunshot wounds inside a house in the 2700 block of Southwest Ensenada Terrace after police responded about 5:30 p.m. The couple’s two younger children, ages 1 and 2, were inside the home when the shooting happened, investigators said.
The child who found the bodies first saw the two younger children upset inside the residence, police said. The child then found Estime and Alexis dead in the kitchen area and contacted a family member for help. That family member called 911. Officers arrived soon after, secured the home and began treating the scene as an active death investigation. Police said a firearm was recovered at the house. Investigators did not release the exact time of the shooting or say whether anyone nearby reported hearing gunfire before officers were called.
Police said the deaths appear to be an isolated murder-suicide, but they had not publicly identified which person they believe fired the fatal shots. Detectives continued processing evidence and conducting interviews after the bodies were found. The agency said Estime and Alexis had been married about seven years and were in the process of a divorce. “Preliminary findings indicate the divorce proceedings may have stemmed from allegations of infidelity,” police said in a statement. Police also said the matter involved a person who lived outside the county, but officials did not name that person or describe the person’s role in the case.
Investigators said the couple had a documented domestic history before the deadly shooting. Police said one earlier Port St. Lucie Police Department case involved alleged written threats to kill. A warrant was issued for Estime, and he was arrested Jan. 26, police said. After that arrest, Alexis submitted a non-prosecution affidavit on Feb. 5 asking that the charges be dismissed and stating that she did not want to testify or pursue the case. Police said the earlier case was later dismissed. The deaths on Southwest Ensenada Terrace came about three months after that affidavit was filed.
Neighbors described the family as known in the area and reacted with shock after seeing police outside the home. “They were a beautiful family, beautiful,” a neighbor identified as Irma told a local television station. “Just something happened between wife and husband.” Another neighbor, Pamela, said the children were the focus of the community’s concern. “We pray for the family,” Pamela said. “We pray for the family and for the children.” Photos and video from the scene showed a large police response outside the home Monday afternoon.
The case also drew attention because of the young children who were present. Police said the two youngest children were inside the residence during the shooting, while the oldest child discovered the aftermath after returning from school. Officials did not release details about the children’s conditions after officers arrived or say where they were taken after the scene was secured. Authorities also did not say whether the children witnessed any part of the shooting. Detectives were reviewing the couple’s history, the recovered firearm, witness accounts and records tied to the divorce as they worked to complete the investigation.
Local domestic violence advocates said the case reflected patterns they have seen in other troubled relationships, especially when criminal cases and separations overlap. Nina Batista, a licensed clinical social worker, said victims sometimes refuse to move forward with prosecution because of fear, pressure or emotional ties. “The terror floods them to the fact that they don’t feel like they can go anywhere,” Batista said. Pam O’Brien, president and CEO of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, said some survivors need several attempts before a relationship ends for good. Police did not say whether Alexis had contacted any advocacy group before her death.
No criminal charges were pending in the new case because both adults were dead. Police said the investigation remained active as detectives continued to gather evidence and interview people connected to the couple. The next formal updates are expected from Port St. Lucie police after investigators finish reviewing the firearm, prior reports, witness statements and records linked to the divorce.
Author note: Last updated May 12, 2026.