A recently baptized mother of two shot and killed both her sons before killing herself (Pictured: Esbeidi Sanchez, 25)
Just days after receiving a baptism from her local church, a Florida mother of two shot and killed her sons before turning the gun on herself.
Authorities in Bascom say that on October 6, Esbeidi (pronounced Es-Betty) Sanchez waited for her two young sons to walk through the door after school and shot them both in the head.
After killing Ronaldinio ‘Ronny’ Ramirez-Sanchez, 7 and critically injuring Gustavo ‘Angel’ Ramirez-Sanchez, 5, she used the gun on herself.
Her husband, Thomas Sanchez, came home to discover the gruesome scene, frantically placing a call for help with local police, according to USA Today.
‘Angel’ Ramirez-Sanchez was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Tallahassee, where he pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
Pastor John Smith, head of the First Baptist Church in Malone, said the community is still in shock over the incident, struggling to reconcile with the events of last week.
Esbeidi Sanchez is said to have waited for her two young sons to walk through the door after school (Pictured: Ronaldinio Ramirez-Sanchez (R), 7, and Gustavo ‘Angel’ Ramirez-Sanchez, 5)
‘Everybody’s flabbergasted,’ Smith said. ‘She was a very beautiful lady and seemed like she had a real sweet personality. She didn’t indicate that anything was wrong whatsoever.’
Police said that Sanchez, 25, had left a suicide note, detailing the hardships in her life. She failed, however, to convey why she chose to take the lives of her young children.
‘The note that she left does indicate that this is what she wanted to do,’ said Capt. Scott Edwards of the Jackson County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office..
Her husband, Thomas Sanchez (pictured) came home to discover the gruesome scene and called for help
‘Basically it was describing some incidents that occurred in her past that probably led up to this. It mentions the kids, but it doesn’t mention why she would do that to the kids. It’s probably one of the things we’ll never know.’
As for Thomas, one neighbor told USA Today that ‘he’s accepted it… but just like everybody else, he doesn’t understand it.’
Esbeidi Sanchez was said to be highly involved with her children’s studies and regularly attended church with Pastor Smith.
On October 1, she was baptized at her church, which was attended by her children and husband.
‘When you go down in the water, it’s like Jesus being buried in the tomb,’ Smith told USA Today.
‘And when you come out of the water, you’re resurrected to a new life. And from that point on, you’re walking with Jesus.’
Teachers at her sons’ school were equally stunned over the news, who saw Esbeidi Sanchez as a caring parent.
‘Mama was very involved in the school,’ said Bryant Hardy, Malone Elementary assistant principal.
‘We loved their whole family. Two very sweet kids, always smiling. Every time I walked by them, they always had a hand stuck up in the air to give me high five. Everything was good to them. They were just good kids.’