JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A clinical social worker is sharing resources to keep families and others safe after the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested two men within a week in connection with their mother’s murders.

JSO said Eric Cobb murdered his 51-year-old mother, Erika Winford, at their home in Durkeeville Sunday night. 

Last Thursday, Adiel Marquez Gonzalez was arrested in Arlington and charged with his mother’s death. His mother was Dulce Maria Martinez Guash.

Colleen Rodriguez, licensed clinical social worker and CEO of the LJD Jewish Family and Community Services, said reaching out to mental health experts and setting boundaries is key, but families should not be afraid to call law enforcement. She said while it may feel wrong to call 911 on a family member or not let them in your home, doing so could save a life.

“It’s difficult as a parent, you love your child,” Rodriguez said. “The worst thing you can imagine doing is having to call the police on your own child.”

In each of the cases, neighbors described the men exhibiting unusual behavior on previous occasions, police reports said. Rodriguez said neighbors and friends should encourage families to seek help and not be afraid to call 911.

“Then they can get help, then they’re not committing a higher level crime,” she said. “They’re not hurting you to the point where there’s no return from that, which is what this situation, both these situations, that’s the point both of these gentlemen are in. And so actually you’re saving them and maybe saving yourself.”

Rodriguez said families should reach out to physicians, mental health facilities and domestic violence shelters. Eric Cobb’s father told First Coast News they did everything they could to get him help before he was charged with his mother’s murder Tuesday, but because he’s an adult, there was only so much they could do. 

Rodriguez said it then comes down to setting boundaries.

“Are you going to allow your child in your home?” Rodriguez said. “Are you going to give your child money? Are you going to choose to be alone with your child? Are you going to get a restraining order? I mean, those are all very difficult steps for a parent, but if you see behavior escalating and they are not getting the help or taking the medication and you feel threatened in any way, unfortunately, these are two terrible examples of families that I’m sure were doing everything that they could, but they needed to set, we need to set healthy boundaries and keep themselves safe.”

 If you or someone you know needs help in a domestic violence situation, Hubbard House has a 24-hour hotline and text line. The hotline number is 904-354-3114 and the text line number is 904-210-3698.

Survivors can also make an appointment or walk into the Hubbard House Outreach Center at 6629 Beach Blvd, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All Hubbard House services are free and confidential.

The Florida Domestic Violence hotline is 800-500-1119 and you can find local services here. In Georgia, you can call 800-344-28-36 and find services here.