Killer Spares Wife But Makes Her Watch

"BOYNTON BEACH, FL — A South Florida man strangled his two young sons with a rope at his estranged wife’s house and then used a gun to shoot one of the boys several times before he shot himself to death, authorities said Saturday afternoon.

"Police say Isidro Zavala, 45, early Saturday went to the Boynton Beach home of his wife with the intention of killing her and their children, Eduardo Zavala, 12, and Mario Zavala, 11.

"At the crime scene, detectives found a blue bag with a second firearm, extra ammunition, duct tape, cutting shears and a note addressed to Zavala's oldest son, who was not at the residence during the killings, police said.

"Isidro Zavala carried out his plan, but with an exception: He spared his wife, Victoria Flores Zavala, 36, so that she could suffer, police said.

"`What Mrs. Zavala had to go through—watch her children killed before her—is probably the most horrific thing you could ever imagine, at least for me,` said Boynton Beach Police Chief G. Matthew Immler, saying that he himself is a parent.

"The motive for the killing `is just speculation at this point,` Immler said.

"Victoria Flores Zavala contacted police, who arrived at her house in the 400 block of Southwest Eighth Avenue about 1:50 a.m. Saturday.

"Officers found one child dead in a back screened patio area. A second child was found dead in the kitchen dining room area. Officers found Isidro Zavala’s body in the kitchen, police said.

"Victoria Zavala said that her husband killed their children, police said. She said her husband had been separated from her for some time and no longer lived in the house."

From NBC Miami...