One of the scariest things about social media is that it never tells the full story. Just days before killing his family and himself, 39-year-old US Customs and Border Protection Officer Ezequiel "Zeke" Almodovar celebrated a fun and relaxing day at Disney's Animal Kingdom with his wife and sons. They seemed to be all smiles.
“Family time… we needed this… no school, no work, no adult bulls— just family time enjoying life through eyes of kids… love you baby," Zeke wrote on Facebook.
While family and friends didn't expect such a devastating ending, they suspected something after not hearing from the Almodovar family for days. When police went to investigate, they opened the door to find four bodies.
His wife, Marielis Soto-Almodovar, and their sons Ezequiel Jr., 16, and Gabriel, 12, were killed. Zeke also shot himself after the murders took place. While their dog's life was spared, the shih tzu — named Fluffy — was reportedly frazzled.
So what exactly happened?
Bruce Lewis, Zeke's brother-in-law, is still devastated. "His sister is not holding up that well," he told WFTV, per People magazine. "My son is devastated. He wasn’t a violent man. He wasn’t doing drugs. He didn’t use substances, so I don’t know what possessed him to be in a state of mind."
Zeke's celebratory post from Disney was his last post on Facebook. Since the news of their deaths went viral, 271 people have reacted to it. His other posts seemed to celebrate the love he had for his family, appreciative of the fact that they were a calming presence in his life. But these posts may have been calculated if Zeke planned to attack his family in advance.
On February 15, right after Valentine's Day, Zeke noted that he was "feeling fantastic" with his wife by his side. In the post, he celebrated "New beginnings," meaning that it's possible that the two of them had hit a rocky point. But that's tough to prove.
Zeke's cover photo also included his entire family. It's scary to know that something may have snapped — and it might not have taken all that long for it to happen. It's further proof that no matter what, it's impossible to truly know what's happening behind closed doors.
Officers found the slain family inside their house at Corner Glen Drive in Orange County, Florida. Sheriff John Mina, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, had to alert the neighborhood. He said it was an isolated incident. People were shook up since the neighborhood had seemed safe up to that point.
Zeke and his family weren't strangers to the neighborhood. In fact, neighbors were also shocked that something so criminal took place. "When you get to know your neighbors, you care about them. Like, we do care about them," neighbor Michelle McCracken told WFTV. She continued, "Absolute shock because it literally would have been the last group of people around here on my mind that this would happen to."
Another neighbor, Graylann Holland, was close to one of the boys in the house. The two often played sports together. "He is more than a teammate to me. I just didn’t think this could happen," he told the news outlet. "I don’t know how I’m going to continue a lot of stuff without him."
The Herald Sun found comments from Zeke's sister, who is also trying to figure out this mystery. "He is the best man and father I have ever known and I wish I could have told him that so he knew how much he was loved and looked up [to]," she reportedly wrote. "I don't understand WHY?"
Both of Zeke's children played on the Lightning Youth Basketball team. Sometimes, Zeke himself helped coach. They reportedly had a moment of silence for the family when they heard the news of what happened. "It’s sad news. It hit everybody hard, but like Lightning, we’re going to carry forward, [and] we’re going to represent," Coach Don Martin said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
"They just loved the game, and the parents loved and supported them," their coach said. "This was a loving family. They were happy. Everyone’s been hit so hard [by] as much as the fact that it happened as, ‘Is it real?'" The whole scenario is anyone's worst nightmare. There are so many questions that remain unanswered.
The Sentinel did report that among the many tributes for the family, one family member made note of mental health and mental illness. "Mental illness and depression is real," they wrote. “I love you all and may you RIP." If true, it's another reminder as to why people should always take mental health issues seriously.
The brain is the most important part of the body, and it needs to be treated like a priority. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 8 million people die annually due to mental illness. Since mental illness can be treated, it means that people are dying when they shouldn't have to.
It's important to showcase what might happen without treatment. That said, so many people fight for the proper health care they deserve. Mental Illness Policy Org has estimated that up to half of the people with a diagnosis aren't being actively treated for their situation. Oftentimes, it's an issue with insurance.
There should never be any shame in addressing the issue. If the speculation is correct, it's important for others to see what might happen if mental health issues get shoved aside. Regardless of what actually triggered this tragedy, the world lost a loving family.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
