Background: The North Lauderdale, Fla., Walmart store where Nathan Gingles was found by police with his daughter (Google Maps). Inset (top): Nathan Gingles (Broward County Sheriff's Office). Inset (bottom): Mary Catherine Gingles (Broward County Sheriff's Office).
A Florida man was apprehended by police after his 4-year-old daughter was reported missing and the girl's mother and grandfather were found dead of gunshot wounds.
Nathan Gingles, 43, was charged with three counts of premeditated murder after Broward County detectives located him at a North Lauderdale, Florida, Walmart Supercenter on Sunday. His 4-year-old daughter, the subject of an Amber Alert that was issued the same day, was with him and was unharmed.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office ultimately located two separate crime scenes in neighboring houses after they said that Gingles shot and killed his estranged wife, Mary Catherine Gingles, 34, her father David Pozner, 64, and another man identified as Andrew Ferrin, 36, in Tamarac. Pozner was found dead on the back porch of Mary Gingles' home while she and Pozner were found at the home next door. Ferrin was reportedly the nephew of the Gingles's neighbor.
According to police, the case began early in the morning on Feb. 16, when neighbors reported hearing gunshots at the home of Mary Gingles at about 6 a.m. When police arrived, they found Pozner "suffering from a gunshot wound." He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the death was being investigated as a homicide.
Investigators soon learned after finding Pozner's body that his 4-year-old granddaughter was taken from the home. An Amber Alert was issued for the child, who Mary Gingles shared with her soon-to-be-ex husband, Nathan Gingles. Court records showed that Mary Gingles filed for divorce in February 2024 after filing for an order of protection against Nathan Gingles, citing domestic violence. She filed a second injunction in December 2024 and received an order of protection against her estranged husband.
As police continued to investigate the scene where Pozner's body was found, evidence led them to the house next door where Mary Gingles and Ferrin were located — WPLG reported that neighbors could see footprints that allegedly belonged to Mary Gingles as she ran from door to door asking for help.
Police were able to track Nathan Gingles down after identifying his car, a silver BMW X3 that had a Texas license plate. He was arrested at the Walmart and booked into the Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale, where he is being held without bond. He was charged with three counts of premeditated murder with a firearm, violating a domestic violence protection order, and interference with the custody of a minor.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information from police.