Family Found Dead in Florida Home; Carbon Monoxide Suspected

A Coast Guard veteran, his wife, and their two children were discovered deceased in their Florida residence, with authorities suspecting carbon monoxide poisoning as the likely cause.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to a welfare check at a home on Bunyan Truck Way around 10:25 p.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival, they found a family member deceased inside.

The victims have been identified as 33-year-old Johan Sanchez, 37-year-old Rebecca Santos, 15-year-old Michael Melendez, and 2-year-old Samuel Sanchez. While investigators believe carbon monoxide exposure may have led to their deaths, the Medical Examiner’s Office is still determining the official cause.

No signs of foul play are evident, and the investigation continues.

Sanchez’s mother and brother expressed their struggles to come to terms with the sudden tragedy. Jackie Soto mentioned that just the night before, she had a brief, routine phone conversation with her son, who was baking a cake at that time. “I can’t believe it. This is my baby,” she remarked.

Sendy, Sanchez’s brother, shared that he met his wife through a church in Massachusetts before they relocated to Florida about a year ago. He described his brother as family-oriented and dedicated to service, stating, “Nobody expected a tragedy like this. We are just devastated.”

Local news outlets indicated that while the U.S. Coast Guard is covering Sanchez’s funeral expenses, arrangements for his wife and children fall to other family members since benefits typically apply only to the service member.