A prominent South Florida real estate professional and her two young daughters were found dead Tuesday night in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide at a home in Doral’s Isles neighborhood.
Melanie Hyer, 46, a probate real estate specialist who had appeared frequently on NBC6 as an industry expert, was among four people discovered dead during a welfare check. Her daughters, Savannah, 11, and Sienna, 8, were also found dead alongside their father, 42-year-old Ryan Charles Whiten. All four had suffered stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Hyer and Whiten had separated years earlier and were co-parenting their daughters. Court records show Hyer had been married to another man until March of this year, while Whiten had also remarried, though that marriage ended as well.
Doral Mayor Christi Fraga, who knew Hyer personally, called the events an “unimaginable tragedy,” adding that as a mother the loss felt especially close to home. Former NBC6 journalist Willard Shepard, a close friend of Hyer’s, said he had spoken with her about six weeks earlier with no indication anything was wrong.
The girls attended Downtown Doral Elementary, where grief counselors were made available. The school’s head described them as “deeply loved” by teachers and peers. The girls were also members of the Doral Field Hockey team, which mourned their loss on social media, remembering their kindness and positive impact on the community.
Authorities have not yet released a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
