Neighbors heard a scream from the apartment of a beloved Florida middle school teacher who was found dead alongside her boyfriend in a suspected murder-suicide over the weekend.
Amanda Hicks, 26, had moved with her boyfriend and her 10-month-old daugher, Alani, into a unit at the apartment block in Port St. Lucie three weeks earlier.
Neigbor Monica Ventura, 56, said she had heard “a very loud, screechy scream” come from the first-floor apartment during the night Friday, according to local news site TCPalm.
“That scream stays in my head,” she added.
Police say Hicks was apparently killed by her partner, who then took his own life
“You never know what people go through. I feel like I wish I could’ve reached out,” another neighbor told CBS 12 News.
“We didn’t even get time to even get to know them because everything happened so fast,” the neighbor added. “My heart is out for the family, though. Hopefully, they find peace in all of this.”
Amanda Hicks (left) was found dead on Saturday. Eric Hicks/Facebook
Hicks was a reading teacher at a local middle school. FacebookAuthorities were initially called to the property about 11:45 a.m. Saturday after a relative of the male resident requested a welfare check, the Port St. Lucie Police Department said.
Police believe the unidentified man killed Hicks before taking his own life. Alani was found unharmed in her crib and has since been placed in the care of a family member.
Hicks was a reading teacher at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School.
Hicks’ infant daughter was found inside the home unharmed. Eric Hicks/FacebookAlthough neither she nor her partner were formally named by police, school principal Darcia Borel sent out a memo to staff members identifying Hicks as the female victim. The district also confirmed the baby left alone inside the apartment was her daughter.
“The Port St. Lucie Police Department has confirmed that Ms. Hicks was the victim of a homicide,” Borel wrote.
“While words will never be enough to convey the shock and sadness this news has brought to our school family, it is more important than ever to come together to support one another through our grief journey.
Police found the bodies inside the apartment during a welfare check. Peacock Run Apartments“Additional information about memorials and opportunities for supporting Amanda’s beautiful little girl will be forthcoming.”
Martin County Schools’ last day before summer break was Friday, but counselors have been made available on campus Tuesday for students and staff who want to talk about the unexpected tragedy.
Police said no additional information is expected to be released regarding the incident.
They do not believe anyone else was involved, and are not seeking other suspects in the case.
