A family tragedy in the Florida Keys ends with a woman stabbed and her husband dead
A Florida Keys man stabbed his wife as she tried to stop him from killing himself with a knife early Thursday morning, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Carola Dotschay, 53, was flown to Jackson South Medical Center in Miami-Dade County by Keys medics after her husband, 54-year-old Thomas Charles Dotschay stabbed her, the sheriff’s office said.
Adam Linhardt, sheriff’s office spokesman, said Carola Dotscahy was in critical condition when deputies found her and called in medics to treat her, but was in stable condition by Thursday afternoon and is expected to survive.
Deputies found Thomas Dotschay dead from his wounds when they arrived at the family’s house around 4:55 a.m., Linhardt said.
The couple’s 21-year-old son, Christopher Joe Dotschay, witnessed the attack, Linhardt said.
“He was not injured and is cooperating with investigators,” he said
The stabbing happened on Pacific Avenue in the Harry Harris Park neighborhood in the Upper Keys community of Tavernier.
“This case remains under investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available,” Sheriff Rick Ramsay said in a statement. “It does not appear that any other individuals were involved in this incident.”
Neighbors on the quiet street near an ocean side park said the Dotschays have lived in the house for at least 20 years.
“They’re some of the nicest people you’ll ever want to meet,” said Cory Link, 45, a life-long Keys resident. “It’s a horrible situation for everybody.”
Link was standing on the street Thursday afternoon with three other neighbors, who did not want to be named.
They all said that, while acknowledging things go on behind closed doors that go unseen, the violence in the family seemed out of character.
“So much so that it’s like me trying to describe a color that I’ve never seen,” Link said.
This story was originally published August 4, 2022 at 9:53 AM.
