TAMARAC, Fla. (WFLA) — The gun authorities believe was used to kill a man’s estranged wife, her dad, and her neighbor was supposedly returned to the accused killer right before the triple murder, according to court records obtained by NBC affiliate WTVJ.

On Feb. 16, 44-year-old Nathan Gingles fatally shot the three victims while abducting his 4-year-old daughter in Tamarac, prompting a statewide Amber Alert.

When the Broward County Sheriff’s Office responded to the home around 6 a.m. that morning, they found the wife’s father, 64-year-old David Pozner dead on the back patio. The child’s mother, 34-year-old Mary Gingles, was found dead at a home across the street from Pozner’s house.

WTVJ said the mother was trying to get help when another man, 36-year-old Andrew Ferrin, answered the door and was fatally shot.

Following the murders, officials seized more than a dozen guns and a cache of ammunition. WTVJ also reported Nathan Gingles had approximately 20 guns seized following an initial domestic violence injunction last year. It was ultimately dismissed in July 2024.

Newly released court records obtained by the outlet show that Nathan was supposed to surrender the handgun months ago, following his wife’s domestic violence case against him, as the couple went through a divorce.

In January, a second temporary injunction was granted and deputies were allegedly ordered by a judge to re-confiscate the guns, which had been returned to the accused killer. The deputies never obtained the guns.

Days after the kidnapping and murders, eight Broward County deputies were placed on paid leave by Sheriff Gregory Tony for their failures to arrest the eventual murder suspect after finding probable cause.

One of the deputies, Raul Ortiz, reportedly never returned Mary’s calls in October after she discovered a tracking device on her vehicle.

An hour following the missing child alert, deputies found Nathan at a Walmart in North Lauderdale. The 4-year-old was found safe.