The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has identified the two people found dead inside a Merritt Island home Sunday.
Investigators say they were called to the home after they received a call from someone stating they believed the resident living in the home was dead inside.
A family friend of 42-year-old Sittichai Boonkeian and his daughter, 13-year-old Ananya Mungmart says he came over to the Indian Street home a couple of times last week when Boonkeian's mother hadn't heard from him for some time, which was out of the ordinary.
On Sunday night, deputies were called to the home and found their bodies. Iinvestigators say the father had committed suicide.
His teen daughter was dead as well, and investigators haven't said how or why.
Neighbors said they're puzzled as to something like this taking place here, saying the scene last night was "chaos" and the child's grandmother was seen crying. They say they family has lived here for about eight years and never caused problems.
"I could not sleep at all, trying to find some reasoning behind it. It's very shocking," said Wanda Grega, who lives across the street.
The family friend said Boonkeian was a local Thai chef who had his own business at one time.
"He would bring over special food. He didn't speak English very well. She would always talk for him," Grega said.
Ananya was a straight A student at nearby Tropical Elementary who spoke three languages. She had just celebrated her birthday Feb. 14. Both she and her father were American citizens.
Sheriff's investigators say they are waiting on autopsy results to determine how the girl died.
The Brevard County Public Schools says they are providing support at the school level via students services’ crisis teams for staff and students.
Deputies are asking anyone with information to call the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Major Crime Lieutenant Dan Singleton at 321-633-8413 or Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS (8477).