FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A woman who survived a Deerfield Beach standoff during which police say her husband shot and killed a man, stabbed her and two of her sons and then killed himself now faces charges in the case.
Deanna De Jesus, 37, faces charges of aggravated manslaughter and child neglect in connection with the Feb. 9 incident at the Highland Woods RV Park.
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The Broward Sheriff's Office said De Jesus admitted to a witness that she knew her husband sometimes crushed drugs and gave them to their sons. Investigators said the medical examiner found cocaine in the systems of her husband, William De Jesus, and the couple's 9-year-old son.
BSO said Deanna De Jesus did nothing during the Feb. 9 standoff to stop her husband -- who investigators said had already gunned down a 76-year-old man at his RV -- when he stabbed their 9-year-old and 7-year-old sons. Investigators said Deanna De Jesus only protested when her husband stabbed her, before he killed himself.
BSO said that for several hours after she realized her 7-year-old son was still alive, Deanna De Jesus failed to call for help, although SWAT team members were surrounding the RV.
Five hours after the incident began, the SWAT team went into the RV and found that William De Jesus and the couple's 9-year-old son were dead, and Deanna De Jesus and the 7-year-old son were critically wounded, BSO said.
Investigators said William De Jesus likely brought his family to South Florida from their home in Port Orange to buy drugs.
Deanna De Jesus was taken into custody by Lake Mary police officers Friday afternoon. She is waiting to be transferred to Broward County.