OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A 4-year-old girl was found dead and her mother was taken to a hospital in critical condition after deputies performed a well-being check at a resort near Celebration, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said it responded Monday to the Star Island Resort & Club at 5000 Ave of the Stars after a woman requested a well-being check on her daughter when she didn’t show up to work.
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“She was concerned about her daughter who was having some type of crisis,” Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said.
The sheriff could not say whether it was a mental health crisis or if there were another personal issue the daughter was dealing with.
Officials said security at the resort entered the room and found a woman and her 4-year-old daughter, identified as Masiela Decaro, unresponsive on the bed. The girl’s father, Jorge Ezequiel, shared photos of his daughter with News 6.
Ezequiel said his daughter would have turned 5 years old in August.
“My baby was smart. She was my little girl and unfortunately, it’s sad that it had to be her,” Ezequiel said. “It’s not much I can say. I just wish I really knew what was going on with her mom.”
Deputies said the girl was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman, who had a faint pulse, was taken to the hospital. The sheriff said the woman remains in critical condition and it is unclear whether she will pull through.
“Possibly, she put some type of medications together, gave it to the baby and then took them herself,” Lopez said.
Investigators said they found a note inside the room that just said, “I’m sorry.” At the moment, they are calling this a case of murder and attempted suicide.
Lopez said the woman lives in Orange County and had recently gotten a room at the resort with her daughter but could not give details as to why. He added the mother has no known history of mental health issues.
“We don’t have details on if it was a mental health crisis, or if it was some sort of other things personally her life,” Lopez said.
Ezequiel said he and his child’s mother are separated, though he referred to her as one of the strongest women he knows.
“I wish her the best. I just want answers. At the end of the day, I just want to know what happened,” he said.
The sheriff said that anyone experiencing thoughts of self-harm or of harming others should reach out for help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
The investigation is ongoing. News 6 has chosen not to identify the girl’s mother at this time.