HOUSTON, Texas — A 4-year-old Houston girl was killed in a murder-suicide on September 29, 2026, hours after a family court judge awarded primary custody of the child to her father, according to the Houston Police Department.
Police identified the child as Vivian Savella, 4. The mother was identified as Cibelle Savella, 35, originally from Brazil.
Houston Police responded to a shooting call at approximately 5:45 p.m. at a residence on the 300 block of Terra Reserve Place in west Houston, near North Kirkwood Road.
When officers arrived, they found Vivian deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Cibelle was found with a gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital. She was pronounced deceased on September 30, 2026.
Houston Police Lieutenant Larry Crowson said: "There was a custody hearing earlier today that didn't go well for the mother. She came home, shot her 4-year-old, and then shot herself."
According to ABC13 Houston and court records, the custody hearing on September 29 had awarded primary custody to Vivian's father, Aaron Savella, and limited the mother to continuously supervised possession only. The father had divorced Cibelle in November 2024.
Police said a stepfather and babysitter were also inside the home at the time and heard gunshots but did not witness the incident.
The father's family released a statement through attorney Stefani Shapiro:
"Our family is devastated. Vivian was 4 years old. She was loved without limit by her father, Aaron, and by everyone whose life she touched. There are no words for what has been taken from us. Aaron did everything the law asks of a parent who is trying to protect his child. He trusted the courts. He followed every order. He waited for the process to work. On Tuesday, a judge placed Vivian in his primary care, and she was supposed to come home to him that evening. She never did."
Court records cited by media reports show that in the final order, the mother was barred from speaking to Vivian in Portuguese unless a supervisor could understand the language, was prohibited from attending certain school performances, and was ordered to pay child support and half of out-of-pocket medical expenses. The full reasons for those restrictions have not been made public.
The case has prompted discussion about gaps between custody orders and immediate enforcement. According to the father's attorney, the supervision agency had not yet been notified of the same-day ruling and the order did not specify exactly how the immediate handover was to occur.
The investigation remains ongoing. No charges have been announced.
Say her name: Vivian Savella.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of harming others, please contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US by calling or texting 988.
Sources: Houston Police Department, ABC13 Houston, FOX 26 Houston, NY Post.
