Matias Tovar-Forero, Valeria Tovar Forero
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CANDID ID: FL_22_1203
AGE
12   years
STATE
Florida
DATE OF DEATH
2/8/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On February 8, 2022, Humberto Tovar, who had separated from the children's mother Jessica Forero approximately six months prior, called to ask to take 9-year-old Matias Tovar-Forero and 12-year-old Valeria Tovar Forero to dinner. The mother agreed, as the father seemed calm. After picking up the children via Uber, the father called the mother around 9:00 PM and said "you didn't give me another choice" before hanging up. The mother tracked the children via GPS on their phone and found the father and both children dead. The father had shot both children and then killed himself. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled both deaths as homicide by gunshot wounds. The father had a history of being abusive and had untreated mental health issues, and a prior October 2021 CPS investigation for mental injury had been closed as not substantiated.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

The fatality report states "The father shot the two children and then killed himself." The medical examiner listed the cause of death for both children as gunshot wounds, confirming a firearm incident. The news article also states the father "fatally shooting himself" and identifies the incident as a shooting.

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The fatality report explicitly lists "inadequate supervision" as one of the verified findings: "The Department concluded its investigation with verified findings of death, inadequate supervision and physical injury." The abuse report also lists "inadequate supervision" as one of the maltreatments alleged.

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The fatality report states "The father shot the two children and then killed himself." The medical examiner determined the cause of death for Valeria as "gunshot wounds" and for Matias as "gunshot wounds of head and chest," both classified as homicide. These are clearly inflicted injuries by firearm.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

The fatality report states "The father shot the two children and then killed himself." The news article headline reads "Police: Florida father killed 2 young children then himself" and states the father killed his children "before fatally shooting himself." This is a clear murder-suicide incident.

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The fatality report identifies Humberto Tovar as the "Father" in the family composition chart and states he is the "alleged perpetrator." The report says "The father shot the two children and then killed himself." The news article corroborates this, stating "A South Florida man killed his 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son before fatally shooting himself."

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The fatality report states under "Summary of Prior Agency Involvement with family": "An October 2021 investigation was closed with not substantiated findings of mental injury. The father was the alleged perpetrator with Valeria as the victim and Matias as a child in the home." This documents a prior child protection report.

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report states that the mother "reported that the father was abusive, aggressive and had untreated mental health issues." Being described as "abusive" and "aggressive" in the context of a marital relationship that ended in separation constitutes a reference to domestic violence. The news article also describes the incident as a "domestic dispute."

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report states that the mother "reported that the father was abusive, aggressive and had untreated mental health issues." This explicitly references the father's mental health.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

Several notable details emerge from this case. First, an October 2021 CPS investigation involving the father as the alleged perpetrator for mental injury was closed as not substantiated — just approximately four months before the father killed both children in February 2022. This represents a potential missed intervention opportunity. Second, the father's statement to the mother — "you didn't give me another choice" — just before the shooting suggests premeditation and a possible connection to the couple's recent marital separation (six months prior). Third, the mother described the father as having "untreated mental health issues," which in combination with the prior CPS report and the recent separation, paints a picture of escalating risk factors that were not adequately addressed by the system.

Lives Cut Short