Tragic Incident Under Investigation in Lutz, Florida
Authorities are probing the heartbreaking deaths of a father and his 5-year-old son, which were discovered by the child’s mother during the Thanksgiving holidays.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as 44-year-old Terry Bivens, Jr., and his young son, Jackson Bivens. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office speculates that this incident could be a murder-suicide at their home in Lutz, Florida.
Timeline of Events
The investigation was initiated on Friday morning, November 29. Jackson’s mother contacted law enforcement after failing to reach both Terry and Jackson. According to reports from the sheriff’s office, she reached out around 7:30 AM expressing concerns over their absence.
During a press conference, Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer shared details about her call: “I’m here to pick up my son; however, no one is responding at the door or answering their phones.”
Officers who responded performed a welfare check but found no immediate signs of trouble; the residence was locked and Terry’s vehicle was parked outside. Deputy Maurer explained that there were no indicators of “nefarious activity” or “foul play” during their initial visit around 7:53 AM.
Discovery of Bodies
Approximately two hours later—at roughly 9:30 AM—the anxious mother managed to enter the home herself and discovered both her former partner and son deceased inside. The sheriff’s office confirmed that both suffered gunshot wounds.
Ongoing Investigation
In light of this tragic occurrence, police have not yet disclosed when they believe these events transpired nor if they might be connected to any custody disputes between Terry and his ex-partner. The sheriff’s office chose not to comment further on potential custody issues due to an ongoing investigation.
Initial searches yielded no suicide notes within the premises as indicated by Deputy Maurer during his briefing.
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