A four-year-old girl has revealed shocking details of a brutal triple murder in Tamarac, Florida. Her father, 43-year-old Nathan Gingles, killed her mother, grandfather, and a neighbor. The little girl, Seraphine, was the only witness to the horrifying events. Police say she watched in terror as the violence unfolded in her own home.
The gruesome scene unfolds
Seraphine was sitting on the couch when her father suddenly burst through the back door. She was just four years old, but her memory of the gruesome events is clear. Nathan, holding a “long black gun,” shot her 64-year-old grandfather, David Ponzer, without hesitation. Ponzer had been sitting outside, enjoying a cup of coffee. At around 6:30 a.m., he was gunned down in cold blood. The young girl recalled that Nathan said “bye bye” after shooting him. It was a chilling moment. A moment that would haunt her forever.
Mother and neighbor fall victim
The violence didn’t stop there. The young girl watched her father chase her mother, 34-year-old Mary Catherine Gingles, into the street. The two struggled on the ground. Mary screamed for help as she tried to escape. She ran to a neighbor’s house. She banged on the door, desperate to find safety. But Nathan was relentless. He followed her inside. Surveillance footage from across the street showed him entering the neighbor’s home. Inside, he shot Mary. Seraphine told detectives her father fired “a hundred times.” However, authorities confirm only ten shots were fired. Both Mary and the neighbor, 36-year-old Andrew Ferrin, were found dead inside the home. Mary’s body was found under a bedroom window. Ferrin’s body was found in bed, covered with a blanket. It was a horrific crime scene.
Seraphine’s heartbreaking words
Seraphine, still so young, gave a heartbreaking description of what happened. She said her mother and grandfather were “defeated.” She wished her mother could have “defeated” her father. But in the end, she said, “her dad won.” The words from such a young child only added to the horror of the situation. After the killings, Nathan took Seraphine. He told her that she would never see her mother or grandfather again. He claimed they were going to visit family in Texas. But that was a lie. He kidnapped his own daughter.
Amber alert leads to capture
The tragedy quickly turned into a search for the little girl. An Amber Alert was issued. The authorities acted fast. Later that day, Nathan was found at a Walmart parking lot in North Lauderdale. Broward County Sheriff’s deputies arrested him without incident. He was taken into custody without bond.
Troubling past of domestic violence
Nathan and Mary had a violent and abusive relationship for years. They met in 2016 and married two years later. But their marriage was far from peaceful. Mary faced constant abuse. She spoke out in court filings, describing how Nathan threatened to kill her and their daughter. She said Nathan used drugs, including Adderall, staying up all night in a drug-induced state. He would even sing bizarre songs about how he would kill her. Mary lived in fear, knowing Nathan’s violence could escalate at any moment. Despite these threats, she was unable to escape him. Nathan had already shown signs of stalking and controlling behavior. In fact, Mary discovered a tracking device on her car in October. She also found what she believed was a murder kit in her garage by December. These were clear warnings. But despite filing multiple protection orders, the violence didn’t stop. The couple had also been in the middle of divorce proceedings. These legal battles didn’t prevent Nathan’s deadly actions.
Police failures under scrutiny
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office is now facing intense scrutiny. Sheriff Gregory Tony admitted that his department failed to protect the victims. He made it clear that there would be consequences. “We had a chance to save your loved one’s life, and we failed,” Tony said. The sheriff announced that seven deputies would be suspended after an internal investigation revealed serious failures. These officers had not acted on the multiple warnings of domestic violence. The sheriff blasted their “pi** poor performance.” Deputies had been aware of the situation but did not take action. They failed to intervene in incidents that could have prevented the deaths. “We should have pursued probable cause affidavits,” Tony said. He acknowledged that they had the opportunity to remove Nathan from the streets before it was too late.
Nathan’s history of violence
Nathan’s history of violence went back for years. In court documents, Mary had revealed how Nathan had threatened to kill her multiple times. In one disturbing incident, he made chilling remarks about getting away with murder. He had also told her that if she ever tried to leave, he would kill her. Mary described living “in constant fear” of her husband. Nathan, who worked as an IT technician, earned a large salary. But his violent behavior continued to escalate. He was always one step ahead, planting tracking devices and stalking his wife. In fact, in December 2024, Mary told authorities she believed Nathan was planning to murder her. She had begged for protection, but tragically, it wasn’t enough.
Legal consequences for Nathan
Nathan Gingles now faces multiple charges. He is accused of three counts of premeditated first-degree murder. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. But the charges don’t stop there. Nathan is also facing charges of kidnapping, violating a protection order, and child abuse. His actions have left a community in shock. A little girl has lost her mother and grandfather in a violent crime that could have been prevented. The investigation continues as authorities examine what went wrong in this tragic case. Families are left questioning how someone like Nathan was allowed to continue his violent ways despite multiple red flags.
