ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Authorities revealed a chilling murder-suicide attempt in St. Petersburg where a man allegedly stabbed and killed his girlfriend and her mother before attempting to take his own life. Kirk Hysell Jr., 41, faces two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the brutal deaths.
Police responded to a distressing 911 call on Saturday morning after Hysell allegedly confessed to the murders during a call to his daughter. Upon arrival at the scene at the St. Petersburg home, deputies discovered the bodies of 34-year-old Christina Donzero and her 75-year-old mother, Betti “Suzanne” Thevenet Donzero, both suffering fatal stab wounds.
Christina was found in a bedroom, having sustained multiple injuries, while her mother was located in the garage with similar wounds. Emergency responders pronounced both women dead shortly after their discovery.
Hysell himself was found in the bathroom, suffering from self-inflicted wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where, according to authorities, he admitted to the killings.
Disturbingly, he is reported to have communicated intentions of targeting additional family members and suggested he would repeat his actions if released.
All three individuals were living together at the time of the incident, according to the police. Investigators in St. Petersburg are still working to uncover a motive behind the tragic slayings, as a probable cause affidavit has not been made publicly available.
Hysell remains under medical care and will be moved to the Pinellas County Jail once he is discharged. The ongoing investigation seeks to provide clarity on the motivations behind Hysell’s alleged actions.
As authorities in St. Petersburg continue to piece together the sequence of events, the community is left grappling with the aftermath of a crime that has left two women dead and a family fractured.