Man charged in double murder of Florida pastor and newlywed wife: report

The family of the victims invoked a Florida law that prevents the release of their identities, but relatives said they were a pastor and nurse practitioner

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A Florida pastor and his newlywed wife were shot and killed in their home on Saturday.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said a suspect, Sony Josaphat, has been arrested in connection with the killings in West Palm Beach. The names of the victims have not been revealed but relatives told WPTV the couple had gotten married on Dec. 2., which was also the bride's birthday. 

"She has never been as happy as she was now," a relative of the bride, a nurse practitioner, told the news outlet. 

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Both victims were originally from Haiti, reports said. 

Mugshot of Sony Josaphat

Sony Josaphat is charged with the killing of a pair of Florida newlyweds.  (Pal Beach County Sheriff's Office)

A sheriff's news release said deputies responded to a shooting around 8:36 p.m. in the 12000 block of Summit Run Circle where they found a male and female dead from gunshot wounds. 

Three of the wife's children were inside the home when the shooting occurred, including one who witnessed it, according to local reports. 

The identities of the victims were not released after the family invoked a Florida law that bars releasing the names of crime victims, authorities said. 

During the investigation, Josaphat was linked to the double homicide and arrested on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder. He is being held with no bond. 

Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the slayings. Fox News Digital has reached out to the sheriff's office. 

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Authored by Louis Casiano via FoxNews December 11th 2023