South Dade, FL: 3 found dead in South Dade home; murder-suicide suspected

BY ROBERT SAMUELS
rsamuels@MiamiHerald.com

The husband and wife returned to each other's arms a few days ago, bonding over their baby girl, a portrait of happiness to their family.
Police saw a different picture Tuesday afternoon outside Homestead, when the couple and their 1-year-old infant were found dead in her home in the 16200 block of Southwest 304th Terrace.

Their sudden deaths appeared to be a murder-suicide, police said, who were still investigating Tuesday night just how the three died. Neighbors said they heard no gunshots.

As police tried to piece together what happened, so did the couple's family. Relatives identified the couple as 27-year-old Shanna Edwards and Jermaine Williams, and the baby as Jenaya.

``There was no history of violence with this couple because her husband didn't even live here,'' said Cordel Skyers, Shanna Edwards' brother. ``He lives in Jamaica'' and was visiting, Skyers said.

Edwards' co-workers at the East Ridge Retirement Village in South Miami-Dade were the first to notice something amiss, police and relatives said. She was a hard worker who never skipped a day, so they grew concerned when she didn't show up or call in sick.

They called Skyers, who drove to the house to check on her. He saw that her car was still in the driveway, but when he knocked on the door no one answered.

Around noon, the retirement home's staff called police, who entered the three-bedroom house.

When they emerged, they delivered the news.

``They told us not to go in because everyone's dead and we think it might be a murder-suicide,'' Skyers said.

Skyers called his wife, Leonnie, who helped to gather a shocked and confused family.

``This is the last thing I would have dreamed of,'' she said. ``They seemed happy. I wouldn't say that if I didn't think it was true.''

Edwards had no criminal record in Florida. Information about her husband was not available late Tuesday.

Edwards moved from Jamaica almost 10 years ago, and had worked at the retirement home for the past four years. Outside work, she was an outgoing person who liked to go to the movies and hear a good joke, Leonnie Skyers said.

Two years ago, she married Jermaine. Her parents liked him. He was a soft-spoken man with a calm demeanor who was serving as a soldier in the Jamaican Army.

He flew from the island on Friday to spend a two-week vacation with his wife. On Friday, the couple invited family members to the house for dinner. They ordered Chinese food and talked. Leonnie Skyers played with baby Jenaya, who liked to chase her around.

``We are in so much grief,'' said Mavis Williamson, another relative. ``Now we have to plan a funeral.''