PSL Murder-Suicide Leaves 3 Children Orphaned; Prior Arrest, Dropped Charges Preceded Deaths

A 6-year-old came home from school Monday afternoon and found both parents dead in the kitchen of their Port St. Lucie home — the apparent victims of a murder-suicide that police say followed months of domestic violence warnings that went unheeded.

Port St. Lucie Police Department officers responded to the 2700 block of Southwest Esenada Terrace at approximately 5:30 p.m. after receiving a report of gunshot victims. Inside, they found the bodies of Jimsley Estime, 31, and Ketsy Alexis, 30. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Two children, ages 1 and 2, were inside the home at the time of the shooting.

The 6-year-old, returning from school, found the younger siblings upset and then discovered both parents dead. The child contacted a family member, who called 911.

The three children are now without both parents. Their current placement is unknown. Officials said

The deaths did not occur without warning. Police said the couple, married roughly seven years and reportedly in the process of divorcing, had "prior documented domestic-related incidents." That history includes a Port St. Lucie PD investigation into alleged written threats to kill — threats police attributed to Estime. A warrant was issued, and Estime was arrested Jan. 26.

Nine days later, on Feb. 5, Alexis submitted a non-prosecution affidavit requesting charges be dismissed and stating she did not wish to testify. Under Florida law, domestic violence prosecutors retain discretion to pursue charges even when a victim declines to cooperate, but it is unclear whether the State Attorney's Office for the 19th Judicial Circuit pursued the case after Alexis filed that affidavit. Officials said

Police said preliminary findings suggest the divorce proceedings stemmed in part from allegations of infidelity involving an individual outside the county.

The pattern — a documented threat, an arrest, a victim recanting, a fatal outcome — is one advocates for domestic violence survivors say is tragically common in Florida.

The overall trajectory of domestic violence-related homicides in St. Lucie County Officials said

The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Editor's note: This is a breaking news brief. A follow-up enterprise piece examining PSL PD's prior-contact protocols and the State Attorney's non-prosecution affidavit process is in reporting. Per editorial policy, that piece will differ from this brief by sourcing and framing and will require at minimum one county or municipal official, one subject-matter expert, one affected community member, and one industry professional on the record.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.