Tragic Homecoming: Man Discovers Family Tragedy in $1.4M Home After Business Trip

Tragedy struck a Florida family as a mother took the lives of her 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter before ending her own life, officials reported. At the time of the incident, the children’s father was reportedly abroad on a business trip.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office was alerted around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday to a residence on the 8200 block of Pavia Way in Lakewood Ranch, near Bradenton. The homeowner, who was overseas, contacted authorities to conduct a welfare check, according to a press release.

Upon entering the house, deputies discovered the bodies of Monika Rubacha, 44, along with her children, Josh James, 14, and Emma James, 11, in separate rooms. Investigations concluded that Rubacha was responsible for the deaths of her children before she committed suicide.

Randy Warren, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, informed Fox affiliate WTVT that the deputies had no prior interaction with the family at their current residence. The family had relocated from Missouri approximately three years prior. Warren mentioned that the father was in South America when he lost contact with his wife, prompting him to request a welfare check that led to the heartbreaking discovery.

While authorities have not disclosed a specific motive, Warren did indicate to the press that “there was some planning involved, enough to where [Rubacha] knew what she was doing.”

Warren called the situation “unimaginable.”

“This is a horrible thing for the deputies to have to witness,” Warren told the TV station. “Even worse, for the father and the husband, who was on his way back from South America. He flew in [Friday] morning and had to be notified of what happened here. It’s an incredible emotional day for him. It’s not a good scene at all.”

Deputies have not said how the children were killed other than calling it a “violent scene.”

Property records show the home is valued at about $1.4 million.