Man arrested, charged with kidnapping daughter then killing 3, including child's mom and grandpa
On Dec. 30, the child's mother filed a petition to extend an existing restraining order, according to court records.

Editor's note: This story includes mentions of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit the website.
A 4-year-old girl was found safe after her father is believed to have shot and killed her mother, grandfather and one other person who were found dead in two South Florida homes next door to each other, according to officials.
The child's father, 43-year-old Nathan Gingles, was arrested on Sunday and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, according to the Broward County arrest records.
Police charged him with the murders of three victims, according to a press release:
- Mary Gingles, 34- The mother of the child who was reported missing
- David Ponzer, 64- Mary Gingles' father
- Andrew Ferrin, 36- Relationship to the victims was not stated
Officers found the victims dead from gunshot wounds on the property of two different homes in Tamarac, Florida, around 40 miles northwest of Miami, according to police.
David Ponzer, 64, Mary Gingles' father, was found at the location where EMS first responded to reports of gunshots.
Gingles and another man, Andrew Ferrin, 36, whose relationship to the victims was not stated by police, were found dead at a home next door to Ponzer, according to police.
What was Nathan Gingles charged with?
The man, who is suspected of killing all three of the victims, is believed to have taken the child, which triggered a state-wide amber alert, according to police.
He was charged with the following, according to arrest records:
- Three counts of first-degree murder
- Violation of a domestic violence injunction
- Interference with custody
- Kidnapping
- Child abuse without great bodily harm
- Two counts of Armed burglary
- Child neglect without great bodily harm
As of Tuesday morning, the suspect is being held on a $2,500 bond, according to the Broward Shriff's Office arrest record.
What happened?
On Sunday, at around 6 a.m. local time, Broward County Regional Communications received reports of gunshots fired.
When Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and Tamarac Fire Rescue arrived at the scene, they found on the back patio of the home with a gunshot wound in his back. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
After 10 a.m., an Amber Alert was issued state-wide for the missing 4-year-old girl, while police also looked for Mary Gingles.
When the Amber Alert was issued, authorities believed the child was with both her parents, according to the Palm Beach Post, a part of the Paste BN Network.
Before 11 a.m., the Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response, VIPER, located the vehicle the suspect was driving at a shopping center four miles east of the home where her grandfather's body was found, according to police. Nathan Gingles was taken to the Broward County Main Jail.
The child's mother and Ferrin were both found deceased inside the home next door to Ponzer, according to police. They both suffered from gunshot wounds.
The Broward Sherriff's Office Dive Team found a gun, which was believed to be used during the shootings, in a nearby canal.
Family court case was pending
On Dec. 30, 2024, Mary Gingles filed to have an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence, a restraining order, extended, according to Broward Clerk of Courts' records.
On January 22, 2025, an order granting the motion to continue and a court hearing on extending the injunction was set for March 19.
Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Samantha Neely; Paste BN NETWORK - Florida