SMYRNA, Tenn.—Police say a man killed his ex-wife in a murder-suicide while
three children were sleeping in the home. Neighbors never suspected there were
any problems at the home on Bolton Drive.
"We got the call around 6:41 a.m. that a child came to a neighbor and
stated that his parents were dead," Chief Kevin Arnold said.
The eight-year-old boy had a gun in his hand. When police arrived, they found
Sharon Forbes, 34, murdered by Adytia Ramotar, 37, who officers say then turned
the gun on himself.
"It's very traumatizing for the children and family involved with
this," Chief Arnold added. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved."
Two other children, a two-year-old and six-year-old, were also home at the
time but unharmed. Neighbor Kevin Beard saw Ramotar and the kids on Friday
night.
"[Ramotar] actually asked me can I move my car up a little bit because
it was in the way of his truck," Beard explained. "They seemed all
happy and everything, him and the kids."
Police say the couple was married then divorced, but they were in the
process of reconciling. They lived in the Smyrna home for about two months.
Detectives searched the cars and removed multiple envelopes filled with
evidence they hope will help them determine what went wrong.
"It's kind of sad actually and unexpected. To see somebody and talk to
them and the next thing you know they're gone," Beard said. "And to
see their kids and not know who's going to watch them or who's going to be
there for them."
The children are in the custody of the Department of Children's Services,
and they will be released to family members. Investigators don't believe they
witnessed the murder-suicide.
