Cibelle Savella's ex-husband breaks his silence following the brutal murder of his daughter Vivian in Texas
Four-year-old was expected to return to her father hours before fatal shooting
A Texas father is grieving the death of his four-year-old daughter after she was fatally shot in her Houston home in an apparent murder-suicide involving her mother, just hours after a family court hearing over the child's custody.
Vivian Savella was expected to return to her father, Aaron Savella, on the evening of the shooting. Instead, Houston police found the young girl dead inside a west Houston home after responding to reports of gunfire at about 5:45 p.m.
Police said Vivian had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. Her mother, 35-year-old Cibelle Savella , was also found with a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital. Authorities later confirmed that Cibelle died from her injuries.
The deaths came on the same day as a custody hearing involving Vivian . According to the family's attorney and sources cited by ABC13, a judge had awarded primary custody of the child to Aaron . Court documents also indicated that Cibelle's visits with Vivian were to take place only under continuous supervision.
In a statement released through attorney Stefani Shapiro, Aaron's family said Vivian was deeply loved and described the loss as devastating.
“Our family is devastated. Vivian was four years old. She was loved without limit by her father, Aaron, and by everyone whose life she touched. There are no words for what has been taken from us,” read the statement.
“Aaron did everything the law asks of a parent who is trying to protect his child. He trusted the courts. He followed every order. He waited for the process to work. On Tuesday, a judge placed Vivian in his primary care, and she was supposed to come home to him that evening. She never did.”
The attorney said Aaron had never accused Cibelle of physically abusing Vivian , but had expressed concerns about possible emotional abuse. The family's statement emphasized that Aaron had pursued the matter through the court system rather than outside it.
Custody ruling preceded the devastating shooting
The former couple divorced in November 2024 after four years of marriage, according to reports, and their separation was followed by a contentious dispute over Vivian's care.
The latest court order gave Aaron primary custody and exclusive authority over important decisions concerning his daughter, according to reporting based on court documents. Cibelle's contact with Vivian was restricted, and the supervision requirement was expected to be handled by a court-appointed agency.
Other reported restrictions included limits on Cibelle's involvement in Vivian's school activities and medical decisions. Reports also said that communication in Portuguese, Cibelle's native language, was subject to supervision by someone able to understand the language.
At the Houston residence when the gunfire erupted were Cibelle's husband and a childcare aide. Investigators spoke with both people as part of the inquiry, and they aren't believed to have been involved in the shootings.
Houston police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths. While the shooting happened shortly after the custody hearing, authorities haven't publicly established a definitive motive or said that the court ruling itself caused the violence.
