Texas mom Cibelle Savella kills 4-year-old daughter and herself after custody ruling; husband and babysitter were inside $1.1 million home when shots rang out

In a disturbing incident, a Texas mother shot dead her four-year-old daughter in a murder-suicide just hours after losing a custody battle with the girl’s dad. According to New York Post, the woman identified as Cibelle Savella, 35, was supposed to hand over her daughter, Vivian Savella, to her ex-husband, Aaron Savella, on Tuesday night. But instead of doing that, she shot her daughter dead in her $1.1 million Houston home and then took her own life, according to the Houston Police Department and a family attorney.

“There was a custody hearing earlier today that didn’t go well for the mother,” Houston Police Lieutenant Larry Crowson said. “She came home, shot her 4-year-old, and then shot herself.”

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Father says Vivian Savella was supposed to come home that evening

The heartbroken father released a statement after his ex-wife Cibelle Savella killed their 4-year-old daughter in a horrific murder-suicide. Attorney Stefani Shapiro told The New York Post that Aaron never alleged Cibelle Savella physically abused Vivian, but believed the little girl was “potentially being emotionally abused” by her mother.

“Our family is devastated. Vivian was four 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,” Shapiro said in a statement on behalf of Aaron and his family.

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“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.”

The statement went on to say “fathers who fight quietly, patiently, and within the law to protect their children, their stories are rarely told.”

Cibelle Savella’s new husband was inside the house when shots fired

Police rushed to the home around 5:45 on Tuesday night and discovered little Vivian Savella dead and Cibelle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on the third floor of the residence.

According to reports, Cibelle’s new husband, restaurateur Greg Kubala, and a babysitter were inside the house when she shot her daughter dead. When they heard the sounds of gunshots, they frantically rushed into the child’s room, according to cops and the Daily Mail.

They are not believed to be behind these shootings or a part of it, according to an initial investigation.

Cibelle was initially hospitalized but died a day later, police said.

“There was a custody hearing earlier today that didn’t go well for the mother,” Houston Police Lieutenant Larry Crowson said after Tuesday’s tragedy, per ABC13.

Cibelle Savella and Aaron divorced in 2024

Cibelle was originally from Brazil and she parted ways with Aaron in November 2024 after four years of marriage. The divorce led to a bitter legal battle over their daughter, Vivian Savella.

During a court hearing on Tuesday, Aaron was given exclusive rights to make decisions about Vivian’s care, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.

Cibelle was allowed to see Vivian only under supervision and the visits had to be monitored by Guardians of Hope, a Texas-based group, according to Harris County Judge Audrie Lawton-Evans.

The court also placed restrictions on Cibelle speaking Portuguese with her daughter. She could speak to Vivian in Portuguese only if the supervisor also spoke the language, the Daily Mail reported.

Cibelle was also ordered to pay child support to Aaron and had to cover half of Vivian’s out-of-pocket medical expenses. She was not allowed to attend Vivian’s school activities or make medical decisions for her daughter.

Previous filings obtained by the outlet showed the parents were also not allowed to disparage one another in front of Vivian. It was not known why Savella lost custody and was hit with such stringent restrictions over her daughter.

Vivian Savella’s relatives devastated over her death

The little girl’s surviving relatives said they were “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.”

Lawyer Charlotte Rainwater, who represented Aaron Savella, said “the family is devastated by this outcome,” KHOU reported.

“I’ve been practicing family law for 28 years and have never experienced anything like this.

“I don’t think anyone in this courtroom on Tuesday contemplated this could be the outcome.”