{
  "id": 11504703,
  "title": "US mum kills four-year-old daughter, self after losing custody battle",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/us-mum-kills-four-year-old-daughter-self-after-losing-custody-battle-11504703",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T18:58:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/us-mum-kills-four-year-old-daughter-self-after-losing-custody-battle/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Houston, Texas, a 35-year-old mother named Cibelle Savella fatally shot her four-year-old daughter, Vivian, and then took her own life after losing a custody battle, according to the New York Post. The tragedy unfolded at the family’s residence in west Houston following a custody hearing. Police were called to the scene and discovered Vivian with a gunshot wound, while Savella was found with a gunshot wound as well. She was transported to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. The custody hearing had reportedly concluded with a decision in favor of Vivian’s father, Aaron Savella. Houston Police Department Lieutenant Larry Crowson stated that the mother’s reaction to the hearing was not favorable. The court had imposed various restrictions on Savella, such as supervised communication with her daughter and prohibition from attending certain school activities, as part of the divorce settlement. The father’s lawyer, Charlotte Rainwater, described the incident as unprecedented in her 28 years of practice in family law. The family expressed their shock, emphasizing that the father had faithfully adhered to all court orders and trusted the judicial process. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic events.",
  "summary": "A 35-year-old woman in Houston, Texas, United States, killed her four-year-old daughter and later herself after losing a custody battle over the child, the New York Post reported on Friday. The woman, identified as Cibelle Savella, reportedly shot her daughter, Vivian, hours after a family court judge awarded primary custody of the child to her Read More:…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "US mum kills four-year-old daughter, self after losing custody battle",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/us-mum-kills-four-year-old-daughter-self-after-losing-custody-battle",
        "published": "2026-10-02T18:56:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}