Haunting smile of little girl, 4, about to discover that her father had just ‘murdered her mother’

This is the harrowing moment a four year-old girl smiled shortly before learning that her father had allegedly murdered her mother. 

Seraphina Gingles was seen looking cheerful after being saved from the clutches of her dad Nathan Gingles, 44, at a Walmart parking lot in North Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday morning.

Tragically, the youngster was yet to learn that Nathan had allegedly gunned down her mother Mary Catherine Gingles, 34, and Mary’s father David Pozner, 64, at the family’s $500,000 Taramac home.

Also killed in the bloodbath was neighbor Andrew Ferrin, 36, who locals say was killed after opening the door to Mary Gingles as she sought help. 

A haunting photo first published by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel showed Seraphina peeping out the door of a Broward County Sheriff’s Office cruiser while wearing a teal and white T-shirt. 

The little girl was abducted by her father after the killings, triggering an Amber Alert. Eerie footage shows Gingles spirit Seraphina away from the murder house under cover of darkness. 

Nathan Gingles was banned from seeing wife Mary in early February 2024 after she obtained a domestic violence restraining order against him.

Divorce proceedings began later that month and were continuing at the time of the murders.

Seraphina Gingles smiles after being rescued from abductor father Nathan Gingles in the parking lot of a Walmart in North Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday. Soon afterwards, the youngster would learn that her father had allegedly murdered her mother Mary

Seraphina was abducted from her home by her father Nathan Gingles after her mom Mary was murdered. Mary’s father David Pozner, 64, and neighbor Andrew Ferrin, 36, also died in the bloodbath

Seraphina is pictured enjoying a horse ride with her late mother Mary Gingles during happier times  

Mary’s initial domestic violence restraining order expired in July 2024.

But she was able to get another put in place in late December, which remained active when she was killed. 

Sunday’s triple-murder began around 6am, when frightened neighbors reported a shooting at Mary Gingles’ Taramac home. 

Broward County Sheriff’s Office raced to the scene, where they found Pozner shot dead on the rear patio of his daughter Mary Gingle’s home.

Deputies issued an Amber Alert for Seraphina and Mary four hours later.

But cops then found Mary dead inside a home across the street from her own, close to the body of neighbor Andrew Ferrin. 

Two hours later, Seraphina was found unharmed at a Walmart in North Lauderdale, around three miles from her home. 

Ferrin’s grieving family told NBC Miami that Mary had been going door-to-door for help and he was shot when he answered the door. 

‘A woman was in the neighborhood knocking on actual doors, and my nephew who was home happened to open the door for her,’ Ferrin’s uncle told the outlet.

Nathan Gingles, 44,  is charged with three counts of murder over the killings of his estranged wife, her father and a neighbor

Seraphina is pictured smiling. The youngster was found physically unharmed in a Walmart parking lot but now faces the trauma of overcoming her mother’s death  

Giungles is charged with three counts of first-degree murder. 

A police dive team was seen searching a lake on Monday in the Tamarac neighborhood. NBC reported the search is connected to the case.  

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Broward Sheriff’s Office for more information in the case. 

Mary Gingles claimed in the petition that both she and Seraphina were physically abused by Gingles. 

The late mother said in court documents Seraphina was once forced to watch as Gingles dragged Mary up the stairs while in a chokehold. 

Mary claimed in the petition that both she and Seraphina were physically abused by Gingles

Grainy surveillance footage shows Nathan Gingles abduct Seraphina in the early hours of Friday morning  

The horror unfolded at Mary Gingles’ $500,000 home in Taramac, Florida, on Sunday morning 

She also accused Gingles of singing ‘songs about killing his wife.’ 

Mary’s attorney and loved ones have called the tragedy senseless and blamed authorities for failing to protect her.

‘It shouldn’t get to this point. The system needs to be fixed,’ Mary’s friend Lupita told NBC Miami.

‘That’s where my frustration is coming in, because loved ones… look at all the lives that have been affected because of one person’s action.’