Cassandritz Blanc, 22, has been charged in the murder of his pregnant wife Martine Bernard, 20, and may be charged in her father’s death as well
A husband has been charged with shooting and killing his six-month pregnant wife and tossing her in a dumpster in Florida.
And now police are probing whether he also killed her father.
When Roosevelt Bernard, 68, did not show up to a family gathering Saturday night, relatives called the authorities. His body was found just 80 steps away from his well kept Hollywood home, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The concern then turned toward pregnant Martine Bernard, 20. Police quickly asked the public to help find her, as they believed she was in danger.
However it was too late for the young pregnant woman, her body was found at 4.30am Tuesday in an dumpster in an alley in Fort Lauderdale, just a short distance from the home she shared with her 22-year-old husband, Cassandritz Blanc.
Both father and daughter had been shot. While Blanc has been charged in his wife’s murder, charges could be pending for his unborn child and Martine’s father Roosevelt.
When Roosevelt Bernard (right) did not show up to a family function, on Saturday, his relatives called police. They soon found his body close to his home, and the police became concerned for his daughter Martine Bernard’s (left) safety. They found her dead Tuesday
Blanc is in the Broward County jail in Fort Lauderdale. He is accused of the premeditated murder, and he is also accused in that case of abusing a dead body.
Police would not comment on how long Martine’s body had been left in the dumpster.
Neighbors and community members were shocked and devastated to hear the news of the heinous murders.
Sydney Johnson saw the Bernards at Hollywood Bible Chapel, and knew them the past 10 years.
‘I am shocked,’ Johnson told WSVN. ‘I never expected things like this would happen to the Bernard family. They are a very godly people. He was a lovely man.’
Roosevelt Bernard was also fondly remembered by Joanna Harris and Twin Richardson, mother-daughter tenants in a Dania Beach duplex he owned.
Martine was found dead inside this dumpster, not far from the Fort Lauderdale home she shared with her husband- who has been charged in her murder
Police were seen combing the area around Martine’s home for clues on Tuesday
‘He was a working man and took care of the house,’ Harris said about his nearly daily visits to the property.
Her daughter said Roosevelt Bernard would tend to the yard or touch up the exterior with paint, often into the evening. And if they were a little short with the rent money, he’d let them slide for a time, Richardson said.
‘He was a darned good man,’ she said.
Investigators asked anyone with information about the cases to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. That organization pays up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest, and calls can be anonymous.