Houston police confirmed that a 35‑year‑old mother shot and killed her 4‑year‑old daughter, Vivian Savella, before taking her own life on September 29. The incident occurred at a residence on Terra Reserve Place in west Houston, shortly after a family court judge awarded primary custody of the child to her father, Aaron Savella.
Timeline of events
Officers arrived at the home at 5:46 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, after receiving a call about gunshots. Inside the third‑floor bedroom, investigators found the child with a gunshot wound and the mother with an apparent self‑inflicted wound. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced Vivian dead at the scene. The mother was transported to a hospital, where she died on Wednesday, September 30.
Witnesses inside the home reported hearing multiple gunshots and forced their way into the child’s room, according to Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department. The child’s stepfather and a babysitter were present in the house at the time of the shooting.
Court custody decision
Earlier that week, a Harris County family court judge placed Vivian in the primary care of her father, Aaron Savella, and limited the mother’s visitation to continuously supervised exchanges. Court documents reviewed by ABC13 show the order did not detail the logistics of the custody exchange. The father’s attorney noted that the supervising agency had not yet been notified of the new ruling.
In a statement released through the father’s attorneys, Aaron Savella said he “trusted the courts, followed every order, and waited for the process to work.” The family expressed that Vivian was expected to return home to her father on Tuesday evening, but she never did.
Community response
Relatives and friends of the family thanked first responders and community members for their support while requesting privacy during their grief. The tragedy underscores the emotional strain that custody disputes can place on families and highlights the need for continued resources to support parents and children navigating the court system.
Houston Police continue to investigate the case as a murder‑suicide. No further details have been released pending the ongoing investigation.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
