Florida mom accused of murdering her two kids at their $1.7 million mansion in upscale gated community was from ‘picture perfect’ family

The Florida mother who allegedly murdered her two kids before killing herself inside their $1.7 million mansion was from a ‘picture perfect family,’ it has been revealed.

Monika Rubacha, 44, and her children, Josh James, 14, and Emma James, 11, were found dead at the family home in the gated community of Lakewood Ranch on Thursday around 8.30pm, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said.

The married mother-of-two killed Josh and Emma in separate rooms of the home before taking her own life, authorities said.

Police were called to the home for a welfare check by Rubacha’s husband, Richard James, 45, after he was unable to get in contact with his family while on a business trip in South America.

When officers entered the residence, they discovered three deceased victims who had suffered ‘traumatic injuries,’ officials detailed.

It is unclear how they died and what led up to the act of violence. Autopsy results are pending, authorities said.

Prior to their deaths, Rubacha painted a happy, loving picture of her family on social media, with one of her friends calling them ‘a picture perfect family’ under a portrait of them posted to Facebook in 2018.

No one else was involved in the distressing murder-suicide that remains under investigation, police said.

The Florida mother who allegedly murdered herself and her two kids in their home was from a 'picture perfect family,' as one friend wrote on the above photograph published on Facebook
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The Florida mother who allegedly murdered herself and her two kids in their home was from a ‘picture perfect family,’ as one friend wrote on the above photograph published on Facebook

The mother-of-two allegedly killed her children in separate rooms of the home, pictured above
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The mother-of-two allegedly killed her children in separate rooms of the home, pictured above

Immediately after deputies entered the home, it was ‘pretty obvious’ that there were dead people inside, MCSO Public Information Officer Randy Warren told WFLA. 

‘I can tell you that this is a violent scene,’ Warren continued.

‘It’s horrible to even imagine what would have been going through the mind of this mother that led up to this,’ he said.

‘This is a horrible thing for the deputies to have to witness. Even worse, for the father and the husband who was on his way back from South America,’ police said.

‘He flew in this morning and had to be notified of what happened here. It’s an incredible emotional day for him. It’s not a good scene at all.’

The family moved in from Missouri about three years ago and there was no history of police calls to the house.

It is unclear how they died and what led up to the act of violence. Autopsy results are pending
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It is unclear how they died and what led up to the act of violence. Autopsy results are pending

Monika Rubacha, 44, and her children, Josh James, 14, and Emma James, 11, were found dead inside their Lakewood Ranch mansion in Florida on Thursday around 8.30pm
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Monika Rubacha, 44, and her children, Josh James, 14, and Emma James, 11, were found dead inside their Lakewood Ranch mansion in Florida on Thursday around 8.30pm

The family-of-four moved to the Sunshine State from Missouri about three years ago and had no history of disturbances or police calls to the house
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The family-of-four moved to the Sunshine State from Missouri about three years ago and had no history of disturbances or police calls to the house

Investigators said the mother ‘knew what she was doing’ and the evidence showed the murder-suicide was planned.

The Lake Club community, where the home is located, is filled with multimillion-dollar mansions – one of which singer Mick Jagger bought in 2020 and sold for $3.25 million in 2023.

The Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch said it had no information to add.