Mom and child’s fatal fall from high-rise balcony was a murder-suicide, police say
UPDATE: On Thursday, Miami police identified Solanye Matos Nava, 38, and her son, Luciano Matos, 5, as the mother and the son in what the department is calling a murder-suicide.
A woman and her 5-year-old son died Monday night after falling at least 14 floors from a balcony onto a pool deck landing at a new Brickell high-rise, in what police say was a murder-suicide.
On Thursday, police identified them as Solanye Matos Nava, 38, and her son, Luciano Matos, 5.
A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said the mother and child are from Venezuela.
The incident happened just after 8 p.m. Monday at the Rise Tower, part of a two-tower condo complex at the Brickell City Centre, 701 S. Miami Ave., complex that also includes retail and office space near downtown Miami.
Miami Fire Capt. Ignatius Carroll said fire rescue responded to the incident after receiving a call of a “possible jumper” at the building at 88 SW Seventh St. The woman was found in some shrubbery and pronounced dead at the scene. The child was rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries after being found on the pool deck.
Detectives who cleared the scene early Tuesday morning still hadn’t determined what exactly caused the two to fall to their death by late in the afternoon.
Owner Swire Properties issued a statement on Tuesday: “We are heartbroken by this incident, and our deepest sympathies are with the family and their friends during this difficult time.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2019 at 11:16 PM.
