The deaths of a Volusia County crossing guard supervisor and the father of her four children in a Deltona home were the result of a murder-suicide, officials confirmed Thursday.
Julyann Rivera, 37, and her estranged boyfriend Jesus Negron, 34, were found shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday in Negron's home. The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office conducted autopsies Thursday morning and confirmed the couple died of gunshot wounds in a murder-suicide, Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said in a written report.
Investigators found Rivera's body on the living room floor and Negron's body in the master bedroom with a handgun in his lap, Davidson said.
Friends told investigators that Rivera and Negron were in the process of splitting up, and that she left with the children about two months ago to live with a relative in Deltona, Davidson said. Rivera reported to work Wednesday morning and when she left for lunch, fellow employees thought she was going to check on her children.
Investigators don't know why she ended up at the home on Alexander Avenue, Davidson said.
A relative of Negron told one of Rivera's co-workers that Negron had called his father and said he had done "something stupid" and was going to kill himself, the report states. That co-worker notified the sheriff's dispatch center and deputies were sent to 678 Alexander Ave. when Rivera failed to answer her phone.
-- Julie Murphy
DELTONA -- A Volusia County school crossing guard supervisor and her boyfriend were found dead in the woman's home Wednesday afternoon, an apparent murder suicide, a Volusia County sheriff's spokesman said.
Julyann Rivera, 37, and Jesus Negron, 34, were found inside Negron's house at 678 Alexander Ave. about 12:40 p.m. when deputies stopped to make a well-being check, spokesman Brandon Haught said. Sheriff's investigators recovered a handgun at the scene and the preliminary investigation points to murder-suicide.
Neighbors from across the street, Ron Campbell and Virginia Boso, didn't hear anything Wednesday morning or early afternoon and were shocked to see crime-scene tape go up around their home after deputies got no response at the front door. There was no immediate indication on why deputies were called to the house.
"One officer drew his weapon and went around the side of the house," Campbell said. "It wasn't long after that the crime scene tape went up."
Haught said Rivera and Negron have four children together ranging from elementary to high school-age, and none of them were home when their parents were found. Rivera worked for the Sheriff's Office as a school crossing guard supervisor since September 2008 -- a full-time position -- anad was promoted after working about three years as a part-time crossing guard.
One neighbor, Arlene Myrick, said, "My (9-year-old) son played with the kids. I'm just amazed to hear this is going on."
Myrick said her older children were playing in the street when deputies rolled up. "They're the ones who told me there was some kind of shooting there," she said.
Rivera and Negron's children told Myrick they were going to Tampa for awhile when she last saw them about two weeks ago. A sheriff's spokesman said the couple had recently separated.
"I guess they're there," she said. "I'm glad they aren't here right now."
Teenagers Lydia Nives and Samantha Moore both said they hadn't seen their friend, the eldest daughter, since the last day of school. Samantha's mother, Lorrie Moore, was distraught.
"My kids have been going to school with them since elementary school," she said. "The mom is a sweet lady, but I only met him once a long time ago. She was a great lady, though."
Lorrie Moore said a neighbor a couple of doors down worked with Rivera as a crossing guard. Two women emerged from the house she pointed out, but both declined to comment saying only "she was a good friend."
Sheriff Ben Johnson said it is a difficult time for all of those in his office who worked with Rivera.
"She will be fondly remembered as a wonderful employee who positively impacted many lives in the community," he said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all who were touched by this horrible and senseless tragedy."
The Volusia Medical Examiner's Officer removed the two bodies at 5:38 p.m. Wednesday, and sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said autopsies are scheduled for Thursday morning.
