Murder-suicide in Ben Hill County leaves two dead and one hospitalized - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Murder-suicide in Ben Hill County leaves two dead and one hospitalized

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May 27, 2007

Fitzgerald -- Saturday was meant to be a day of celebration for Cynthia Olivares. The 18-year-old Ben Hill Countian graduated from high school earlier that morning. But her life was tragically cut short Saturday night after police say her estranged husband shot her and her stepfather before turning the gun on himself.

Steve Coan was inside his house Saturday night when he heard gunshots fired near his home on Mayes Street in Ben Hill County.

"We were sitting inside watching TV when we heard 3 gunshots. We thought it might have had something to do with Memorial Day. Next thing we know the ambulance was over there an everybody was standing around."

It was inside the home on 144 Mayes Street where sheriffs deputies found 44-year-old Tony Jenkins seriously wounded and his 18-year-old stepdaughter Cynthia Olivares clinging to life. Victims of gunshots wounds.

Sheriff's reports indicate that 19-year-old Alberto Olivares opened fire on his wife Cynthia and her stepfather shortly after 10 PM last night from outside of the home. According to sheriff's reports, Olivares and his wife had been separated for three weeks when he tried to meet with her yesterday afternoon.

According to the sheriff's department, Olivares was asked to leave a family get together yesterday at Ocmulgee Park. In the mean time he acquired a 30-06 deer rifle from his brother which later proved to be the murder weapon.

EMS units rushed the two victims to Dorminy Medical Center. Upon investigation sheriff's deputies later discovered the body of Alberto Olivares, dead from self inflicted gunshot wound.

Neighbors that new the family were in shock that something like this happened so close to home.

"I new the girl pretty good. She just had a kid a few months ago, a new born," says neighbor Stoney Seagroves.

According to Ben Hill county Sheriff Bobby Mclemore, domestic violence cases are becoming an increasingly violent trend.

"This is just some of the seriousness that comes out of family violence. Tempers flare and you get a weapon involved and somebody is going to get hurt. And this time two lives were lost and another man shot."

Tony Jenkins remains in critical condition at the Tift Regional Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the leg. As for Cynthia Olivares, she was air lifted to Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon where she died shortly before 5 AM.

The Ben Hill County Sheriff's Department is still investigating the case.

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