6:02 a.m. that morning, Broward County Regional Communications received reports of a shooting in the 9700 block of North Grand Duke Circle in Tamarac. Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and Tamarac Fire Rescue responded. On scene, deputies located an adult male, David Ponzer, Mary Gingles’ father, suffering from a gunshot wound on the back patio of a home at 5897 North Plum Bay Parkway. Ponzer was pronounced deceased on the scene. BSO’s Homicide and Crime Scene units responded to begin investigating the incident.
As part of the investigation, it was learned that a four-year-old child, Seraphine Gingles, was taken from the residence.
10:00 AM A statewide Amber Alert was issued for Seraphine. She was believed to have been taken by Nathan Gingles, Seraphine’s father, who was driving a 2016 silver BMW X3. Multiple BSO resources engaged in the search for the child.
11 a.m., BSO’s V.I.P.E.R. (Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response) deputies located the vehicle involved at 7900 West McNab Road in North Lauderdale. Seraphine was located safe and unharmed, and Nathan Gingles was taken into custody.
“He has been taken into custody and charged with violating an injunction regarding having no contact with the child and her mother,” said BSO spokesperson Carey Codd.
If you need help or know someone in need of help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential support 24/7/365. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also text the word “START” to 88788.
Detailed Timeline of Events – Gingles Murder Case
Background Information
- Nathan Gingles (White Male, born September 30, 1981) was under a domestic violence protection injunction that prohibited him from having contact with his ex-wife and daughter.
- He previously surrendered firearms and ammunition on February 9, 2024, as required by the injunction.
- On September 3, 2024, he reported to police that three firearm suppressors (silencers) were missing when his surrendered weapons were returned.
February 16, 2025 – The Murders
- 6:02 AM – A 911 call is received from a neighbor reporting four gunshots, followed by a woman screaming, “Oh my God!”.
- The caller stays on the line and later hears two more gunshots.
- The caller identifies that the sounds came from a neighboring residence located at 9762 N. Grand Duke Circle, Tamarac, Florida.
- 6:07 AM – Surveillance footage captures:
- A woman frantically knocks on a neighbor’s door, seeking help.
- A man dressed in all black, carrying a firearm, approached the woman with a shoeless child following behind him.
- The woman notices the armed man and runs westbound out of the camera’s view.
- The armed man raises his firearm to a high, ready position before exiting the frame.
- 6:27 AM – Deputies arrive at the scene and begin an investigation:
- They discover a male victim deceased on the back patio.
- The victim is later identified as “Grandpa Dave”, Nathan’s former father-in-law.
- He has a gunshot wound to the head.
- Near his body, deputies find:
- A broken coffee cup handle.
- A red lighter.
- Two packs of 305’s brand cigarettes.
- A spent shell casing.
- A cell phone.
- Inside the residence, deputies conduct a sweep and find:
- Multiple gun lockboxes, some unlocked.
- Keys were left inside padlocks near the gun safes.
- A copy of a domestic violence protection injunction on the kitchen table, listing Nathan Gingles as prohibited from contacting the victims.
- Nathan and his daughter are missing from the home.
Law Enforcement Response & Search for Nathan Gingles
- Deputies set up a perimeter and began a search for the suspect.
- Broward Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Travis Allen spots a man in all black clothing walking southbound along East Grand Duke Circle with a small, shoeless child.
- He radios in the sighting, but the focus remains on securing the crime scene.
- Deputies checked the vehicle in the driveway, a gray Mitsubishi Outlander.
- It is registered to Nathan’s ex-wife.
- A non-stationary surveillance camera is seen in a second-floor bedroom window.
- An AMBER Alert is issued due to Nathan’s history of violence and the fact that he has taken his daughter.
Nathan’s Location Tracked
- Deputies obtain Nathan’s phone number and track his phone signal.
- The phone pings to 5473 N. University Drive, Apartment 1108, in Lauderhill, Florida.
- Deputies and Lauderhill Police arrive at the apartment and confirm:
- The phone is inside the residence, but Nathan and his daughter are not.
- Surveillance video shows Nathan leaving the apartment earlier and getting into a silver BMW SUV.
- Nathan’s registered vehicle is a 2016 silver BMW SUV with Texas plate 5DV2950.
- License Plate Readers detect the vehicle at 6900 W. McNab Road, North Lauderdale.
- Deputies searched the area and located the BMW parked in a Walmart parking lot.
- The vehicle is unoccupied.
February 16, 2025 – Nathan Gingles Arrested
- Deputies spot Nathan and his daughter exiting Walmart.
- Nathan is arrested in the Walmart parking lot.
- His daughter is placed with deputies for safety.
- Nathan refuses to answer questions without an attorney.
Discovery of Additional Murder Victims
- Deputies continue searching for Nathan’s ex-wife.
- They enter a nearby residence and discover:
- Two additional victims with gunshot wounds.
- The victims are identified as:
- Nathan’s ex-wife.
- An innocent bystander inside the home.
- Surveillance footage confirms the sequence of events:
- Nathan chased his ex-wife through the neighborhood.
- She banged on doors, screaming for help.
- She ran into a neighbor’s house to seek refuge.
- Nathan forced his way inside and shot her multiple times.
- He also shot the homeowner, who was not involved in the dispute.
Mary had previously expressed deep concern for her safety, stating in a December court petition, “With Nathan’s violent history, his flagrant disregard for rules or laws, and his telling our daughter that he is going to kill me, I am fearful for my life.” Despite obtaining restraining orders, the tragic events unfolded as she had feared.
Statements from Nathan’s Daughter
- Detectives interview Nathan’s young daughter.
- She provides a detailed eyewitness account of the murders:
- She saw her father shoot her grandfather while he was drinking coffee.
- She witnessed her father chasing and attacking her mother.
- She heard her mother screaming for help and knocking on doors.
- She states that her father shot her mother “a hundred times”.
- She saw her father throw a backpack (containing the gun) into a trash can.
- Nathan told her she would never see her mother or grandfather again.
- He said they were going to visit her cousin in Texas.
Evidence Collected
- Search warrants are executed at:
- Walmart.
- Nathan’s vehicle.
- Nathan’s apartment in Lauderhill.
- The crime scenes.
- Recovered Evidence:
- Black clothing matching the daughter’s description of what Nathan wore during the murders.
- Two spent 9mm shell casings at the first crime scene (Grandfather’s murder).
- Ten spent 9mm shell casings at the second crime scene (Ex-wife & Bystander).
- The murder weapon and backpack have not been found.
- Nathan’s ex-wife had stun gun marks on her body, indicating he used additional force.
Legal Charges Against Nathan Gingles
- Count I: First-Degree Murder with a Firearm (Grandfather).
- Count II: First-Degree Murder with a Firearm (Ex-Wife).
- Count III: First-Degree Murder with a Firearm (Innocent Bystander).
- Count IV: Violation of a Domestic Violence Protection Injunction.
- Count V: Interference with Lawful Custody.
- Nathan Gingles is accused of:
- Murdering three people, including his ex-wife and father-in-law.
- Kidnapping his daughter after violating a domestic violence protection order.
- Chasing his ex-wife through the street before executing her inside a neighbor’s home.
- Shooting an innocent bystander in the process.
- His daughter is a key eyewitness and provided an extensive statement confirming the events.
- Nathan refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
- The search for the murder weapon and backpack continues.