A Florida man is facing multiple charges, including murder and kidnapping, after authorities say he fatally shot his estranged wife, her father, and a neighbor in front of his 4-year-old daughter before abducting the child, triggering an Amber Alert.
Nathan Alan Gingles, 43, was arrested early Sunday morning at a Walmart in North Lauderdale, where deputies found him with his daughter, Seraphine Gingles.
Authorities say Seraphine witnessed the brutal killings of her mother, 34-year-old Mary Gingles; her grandfather, 64-year-old David Ponzer; and 36-year-old Andrew Ferrin, a neighbor who tried to help Mary as she fled for her life.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Ring camera footage captured Nathan stalking Mary before opening fire. “It looked like a soldier in action. It was methodical,” said George David Jr., Ferrin’s uncle, who reviewed the footage. “The way she was terrified and running, the way he had this controlled, fast-style pace… You could feel the terror.”
The attack unfolded around 6:30 a.m. in the quiet Plum Bay neighborhood. Investigators say Nathan first ambushed Ponzer, shooting him in the head while he sat drinking coffee on Mary’s backyard patio.
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Mary then ran from her home, clutching Seraphine’s hand, as Nathan chased her with a gun.
Surveillance footage showed Mary desperately knocking on a neighbor’s door. She managed to get inside Ferrin’s home across the street, but Nathan followed, killing both her and Ferrin while the child watched.
Court records paint a disturbing picture of Mary’s life in the months leading up to her murder. She had filed multiple restraining orders against Nathan, detailing allegations of abuse, threats, and stalking.
In December 2024, she warned the court: “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.”
Mary’s petition also revealed chilling details: she discovered a bag containing gloves, plastic wrap, restraints, and duct tape—items she believed were intended for her murder. Nathan allegedly placed a tracker on her car and tampered with her home’s security cameras.
Despite these warnings, Nathan remained free.
After the killings, Nathan fled with Seraphine, prompting an Amber Alert. Hours later, deputies spotted his silver BMW X3 outside a Walmart on West McNab Road. He was arrested on-site without incident, and Seraphine was safely recovered.
Nathan, a former IT contractor at the U.S. Southern Command in Doral and a military veteran, is now facing charges including three counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and child abuse.
‘It Could Have Happened to Anyone’
Ferrin’s loved ones are mourning the loss of a man they describe as kind and selfless. “Someone else [could] have let her in, if my nephew didn’t… Evil overtook a simple act of kindness,” said David Jr.
Alex, Ferrin’s childhood friend, fought back tears as he recalled their plans to spend Sunday together. “There was so much love, presents everywhere. Andrew had so much love.”
Neighbors remain shaken, grappling with the horror that unfolded in their usually peaceful community. “They were friendly, do-anything-for-you type of people,” said David Bennett, a neighbor. He described seeing footage of Seraphine pleading with her father to stop as he hunted Mary down.
Family law attorney Sara Singer said Mary did everything she could to protect herself. “She got restraining orders. She documented the abuse. She fought for custody. But at the end of the day, a piece of paper can’t stop a bullet.”
As the community mourns, questions remain about whether more could have been done to prevent this tragedy. Mary’s warnings were clear. The danger was real. Yet, despite multiple legal interventions, she was left unprotected from the man she feared most.
