BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 20-year-old Brevard County woman is left to plan the memorial services for her mother, brother and aunt after the three people were found dead in a Malabar house fire that deputies are classifying as a suspected triple murder-suicide.
Alexis McGuire said that three days before the house burned down Sunday, she was celebrating her little brother Sebastian Meachum's ninth birthday at SeaWorld's Aquatica.
"He was just loving everyone, 'I love you. I love you.' He was really happy on his birthday," McGuire said.
She said Meachum was a happy child, despite a tumultuous relationship between his mother, Chrissy Hughes, 39, and her husband, Tony Hughes, 39.
"Tony was always that fallback person for my mom when relationships didn't work out. He's always been someone to threaten but I never thought he would go through with it. Especially not something like this," McGuire said.
Chrissy Hughes and Meachum were found dead in the charred remains of the family's home. Linda Woods, Chrissy Hughes' sister who was visiting from Arkansas, was also found dead in the home.
The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said they believe Tony Hughes killed all three people at the Malabar residence then killed himself at a separate location. His body has not been found, but deputies did find his boat and truck Monday.
The boat was found circling about seven miles offshore Sebastian Inlet and there was blood on the vessel, according to a news release.
McGuire said although there were no domestic violence-related calls to the family's home, she has feared for the safety of her mother and brother.
"I've been saying for years that I didn't really like the relationship. No one ever really listened to me," she said.
McGuire is the victims' only relative who lives in the area so she will be planning all three funerals. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help cover some of the expenses. That account is available here.