A prominent South Florida real estate agent was brutally stabbed to death alongside her two young daughters by her ex-husband, the girls’ father, in a murder-suicide described as “heinous” — just months after their divorce was finalized, police and records show.
Ryan Charles Whiten, 42, killed his estranged ex, Melanie Hyer, and their daughters, Savannah, 11, and Sienna, 8. All four were found dead inside Hyer’s home in a gated community in Doral, Fla., Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office detectives confirmed Thursday.
“The investigation revealed that Mr. Whiten committed these heinous acts and then took his own life,” officials said.
Authorities have not disclosed how long the bodies were inside the home or identified a possible motive for the killings, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Officers discovered the gruesome scene after responding to the residence for a welfare check Tuesday night. All four family members were pronounced dead from stab wounds.
Hyer and Whiten had separated years earlier and were co-parenting their daughters at the time of their deaths.
Both had gone on to marry other people following their split. Hyer had only finalized her divorce in March, court records obtained by NBC6 show.
Whiten’s ex-wife described the relationship between Whiten and Hyer as “toxic” for years, driven by a bitter, drawn-out custody battle over their daughters despite their co-parenting efforts.
Whiten’s ex-wife — who divorced him in 2024 and asked not to be identified — told 7 News Miami that her ex-husband feared Hyer would one day take his daughters away from him, but said she was “shocked” to hear about the murders.
“He was always so sweet with his girls and loved them deeply. I don’t know what happened,” his ex-wife said.
Hyer, 46, originally from Manhasset, N.Y., worked as a probate real estate agent in South Florida, specializing in luxury waterfront and commercial properties. She appeared as an industry expert on multiple news outlets throughout her career, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Doral Mayor Christi Fraga remembered Hyer as “a light of sunshine” who was “always eager to help at school and to be involved as a mom.”
“When I got the news, it definitely hit close to home,” Fraga wrote in an Instagram post.
Both girls were students at Downtown Doral Elementary and were members of the Doral Field Hockey team.
“They were an important part of our community and will be remembered for their kindness, friendship, and the positive impact they had on everyone around them,” the field hockey team posted on Instagram Wednesday. “We will miss them dearly, may they rest in peace.”
A Catholic Mass in remembrance of Hyer and her two daughters is being held Friday night, with organizers asking the public to pray for “comfort and strength for their family and loved ones.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling.
If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.