A Florida man charged with brutally gunning down a pastor and his new wife a week after their wedding had finalized his divorce with the female victim just last month, according to police.
Kerlande Williams and his wife, nurse Marcelline Racine, were installing surveillance cameras in front of their home in a quiet West Palm Beach neighborhood when Sony Josaphat arrived and is accused of shooting them both dead.
The new bride previously had divorced Josaphat on November 22, according to WPTV.
Described by Racine’s shattered relatives as “controlling,” Josaphat told arresting officers she had been “disrespecting” him and ignoring his phone calls, the outlet reported.
Josaphat left the couple’s bodies on the sidewalk in front of their home before fleeing Saturday morning. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Racine’s three children were at the residence at the time and her adult daughter is said to have witnessed the double-murder.
Witnesses told detectives they saw Josaphat park across the street from the victims, walk through their yard and offer a brief greeting before pulling out a pistol and opening fire.
Josaphat had arrived at the home with his own adult daughter.
He was immediately identified as a suspect in the case and turned himself into police soon after the violence.
Josaphat, who is now facing two counts of first-degree murder, apparentl admitted to the slayings.
The spurned ex-husband told police he had not been able to sleep and was filled with rage after learning that his ex-wife had gotten married on December 2 — her birthday.
“Sony said he knew what he did was wrong and has never done anything like this,” according to a police report cited by WPTV.
The couple were putting up cameras at the time of the shootings and Racine was retrieving groceries from the trunk of her car.
It’s unclear if they took the security measure to guard against Josaphat specifically.
Racine’s sister told local outlets her sibling had been jubilant since her wedding day and was thrilled by the prospect of a fresh start with Williams, who served as a pastor in a local church.
“She has never been as happy as she was now,” the sister said.
Josaphat is being held without bond and is due back in court on January 8.