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Sheriff: Deltona father, son found dead in murder-suicide

Sheriff: Deltona father, son found dead in murder-suicide
TWO NEWS STARTS NOW. FIRST AT 4:00. A TRAGIC STORY OUT OF VOLUSIA COUNTY WHERE A DAD WHO TRIED TO GET HIS SON HELP IS NOW DEAD AFTER AN APPARENT MURDER SUICIDE IN DELTONA. WESH 2 NEWS PAMELA CONE SPOKE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT WHO SAYS OFTEN TIMES THIS IS A RESULT OF NOT SEEING THE WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR CATCHING THEM TOO LATE. IT WAS ONLY A WEEK AGO. NEIGHBOR KATHY KANE SAYS SHE MET HER. NEW NEIGHBORS. I WALKED OVER THERE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. LITTLE DID SHE KNOW, A FEW DAYS LATER, THE TWO OF THEM WOULD BE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR HOME. I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT TRAVIS DID. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE DAN WAS SUCH A. HE SEEMED SUCH A NICE MAN. DEPUTIES SAY 34 YEAR OLD TRAVIS DEMARCO SHOT HIS DAD AND THEN KILLED HIMSELF IN AN APPARENT MURDER SUICIDE. DETECTIVES SAY TRAVIS HAD BEEN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THEY EVEN SAY HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SERIOUS CONDITION EARLIER THIS YEAR. LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS ZENOBIA PROCTOR SAYS WITHOUT KNOWING THE SPECIFICS OF THE CASE, IT’S HARD TO KNOW WHAT LED TO THIS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY INTENTIONAL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNINTENTIONAL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN CRISIS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF TRAUMA HISTORY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN NO TRAUMA HISTORY. IT COULD BE, UM, A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE. IT COULD BE SO MANY THINGS. DEPUTIES SAY TRAVIS FATHER WAS AWARE HE WAS STRUGGLING MENTALLY AND THAT TRAVIS WAS GETTING TREATMENT AND ON MEDICATIONS. PROCTOR SAYS SOMETIMES EVEN THAT’S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE THERE ARE SIGNS IN THERE OR NOT SIGNS. AND SO REALLY NOT TAKING ON THAT. BUT EVEN AS I HEAR YOU SAYING IT NOW, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE QUESTIONS OF WHY WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY, AND I THINK THAT’S A PART OF THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT NEEDS TO COME NEXT. PROCTOR ADDS. IF SOMEONE SAYS THEY’RE IN DISTRESS, BELIEVE. THEM. IT’S NOT JUST A CRY FOR ATTENTION OR A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAY BELIEVE IT. THE FIRST TIME. IF THEY DON’T TELL YOU THEY’RE SUFFERING, BUT YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IT, ASK. IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE TOUGH CONVERSATION. REPORTING IN DELTONA, PAMELA COMB, WESH TWO NEWS. NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE, BUT RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS IS THE 988
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Sheriff: Deltona father, son found dead in murder-suicide
A father and son were found dead in Deltona following an apparent murder-suicide.According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to Sumatra Avenue Sunday morning.Responding deputies found 55-year-old Daniel Demarco and his son, 34-year-old Travis Demarco, dead from gunshot wounds.Investigators believe Travis killed his father and then himself."I can't believe what Travis did, you know," said Kathy Kane, neighbor. "Because Dan... he seemed like such a nice man."Kane said she met Daniel Demarco over a week ago when he moved into the neighborhood. She described him as friendly and was shocked to hear about what happened.The two were found by another resident of the home after Daniel did not respond to attempted contact."Detectives learned that Travis had been dealing with mental health issues, including a serious condition that was officially diagnosed earlier this year," a statement from VCSO reads. "His father had expressed concerns about his son's mental state and behavior and was helping him receive treatment and medication."Licensed Mental Health Counselor Zonovia Proctor said without knowing the specifics of the case, it's hard to know what led to this."It could have been completely intentional," she added. "It could have been unintentional, it could have been in crisis, it could have been because of trauma history. It could be a chemical imbalance. It could be so many things."Deputies say Travis' father was aware he was struggling mentally and he was getting help, but even that is sometimes not enough. "Ultimately, very often, it comes down to a split-moment decision when support is not there," said Proctor. "And I say decision very lightly because, again, it's die by suicide, not commit suicide. It's sometimes not an active decision. It might be an impulse at that moment. "It could also be that care was given, but it was already too late. It's important to pay attention to what the people around you are feeling. "If someone tells you that they're in distress, believe them," added Proctor. "Believe them. It's not just a cry for attention..."If they don't tell you they're suffering, but you can see it, ask. It's important to have tough conversations.There are several resources available... But right at your fingertips is the 9-8-8 number for the suicide and crisis lifeline.

A father and son were found dead in Deltona following an apparent murder-suicide.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to Sumatra Avenue Sunday morning.

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Responding deputies found 55-year-old Daniel Demarco and his son, 34-year-old Travis Demarco, dead from gunshot wounds.

Investigators believe Travis killed his father and then himself.

"I can't believe what Travis did, you know," said Kathy Kane, neighbor. "Because Dan... he seemed like such a nice man."

Kane said she met Daniel Demarco over a week ago when he moved into the neighborhood. She described him as friendly and was shocked to hear about what happened.

The two were found by another resident of the home after Daniel did not respond to attempted contact.

"Detectives learned that Travis had been dealing with mental health issues, including a serious condition that was officially diagnosed earlier this year," a statement from VCSO reads. "His father had expressed concerns about his son's mental state and behavior and was helping him receive treatment and medication."

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Zonovia Proctor said without knowing the specifics of the case, it's hard to know what led to this.

"It could have been completely intentional," she added. "It could have been unintentional, it could have been in crisis, it could have been because of trauma history. It could be a chemical imbalance. It could be so many things."

Deputies say Travis' father was aware he was struggling mentally and he was getting help, but even that is sometimes not enough.

"Ultimately, very often, it comes down to a split-moment decision when support is not there," said Proctor. "And I say decision very lightly because, again, it's die by suicide, not commit suicide. It's sometimes not an active decision. It might be an impulse at that moment. "

It could also be that care was given, but it was already too late. It's important to pay attention to what the people around you are feeling.

"If someone tells you that they're in distress, believe them," added Proctor. "Believe them. It's not just a cry for attention..."

If they don't tell you they're suffering, but you can see it, ask. It's important to have tough conversations.

There are several resources available... But right at your fingertips is the 9-8-8 number for the suicide and crisis lifeline.