Pastor And Wife Tragically Taken After Wedding
In the aftermath of joyously celebrating the commencement of their new life as a married couple, tragedy struck a Florida pastor and his newlywed wife. The serene suburban setting of West Palm Beach became the scene of a horrifying incident, as the couple, identified as Kerlande and Marcelline Racine, were fatally shot outside their home. This grim event unfolded at approximately 8:36 a.m. one Saturday morning, merely a week after the couple’s union.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office swiftly responded to the distressing incident. The lifeless bodies of Kerlande and Marcelline were discovered on the sidewalk, where law enforcement officials pronounced them dead. The assailant responsible for this heinous act was identified as Sony Josaphat, the former husband of Marcelline. A 46-year-old resident of Palm Beach County, Josaphat was promptly apprehended and taken into custody for the murders.
During his initial court appearance, Josaphat, now facing charges related to the double homicide, was ordered to remain in custody at the Palm Beach County jail until his next court date on January 8, 2024. According to an arrest report cited by WPTV, Josaphat initially fled the crime scene but later surrendered to local authorities. Shockingly, he confessed to having committed the murders, revealing that the couple’s children had witnessed the horrifying act.
Marcelline’s sister, who preferred to remain unidentified, disclosed to WPTV that her sister had recently found immense happiness in her marriage to the pastor. The couple had tied the knot on December 2, making the tragic incident even more heart-wrenching. It was revealed through court records that Josaphat and Marcelline had only finalized their divorce on November 22.
Detectives investigating the case uncovered a disturbing history of control exhibited by Josaphat. Despite not residing in the home for over a year, he would sporadically appear, unsettling those who knew the couple. Witnesses described the fateful morning when Josaphat approached the pastor and his wife, exchanging pleasantries before abruptly pulling out a pistol and shooting them.
According to Josaphat, his violent outburst was triggered by his ex-wife’s remarriage on her birthday, an event that fueled his anger. He claimed to have gone to the home with the intention of taking his daughter to breakfast but succumbed to a fit of rage. Josaphat expressed remorse, acknowledging the wrongful nature of his actions and insisting that such violence was unprecedented in his history. The devastated community now grapples with the profound loss of a dedicated nurse practitioner and a pastor who had, until that tragic moment, been reveling in the happiness of their recent marriage.