Secrets

Summary

Felonious Florida: The Altidor Massacre | Episode 2: Secrets

Release Date: May 6, 2025

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Introduction to the Altidor Massacre

On a tranquil spring day in 1997, the serene community of Miramar, Florida, was shattered by a horrific quadruple homicide. The victims—three generations of the Altidore family—were found brutally murdered in their family home. Detective Ron Peluso spearheaded the investigation, meticulously gathering evidence that initially pointed to George L. Altidore, the sole surviving family member. However, George maintained a solid alibi, leaving the case unresolved for nearly three decades.

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The Altidore Family: Roots and Reverence

The Altidore family's story begins in the remote Haitian village of Tamonde, a community where Teresia La Verne, the matriarch, was a beloved figure. Teresia, along with her husband Ferdinand, raised five children on their 100-acre farm, contributing significantly to their village's prosperity and well-being.

Teresia's Legacy:

"She was high respected in the town. She was the sweetest thing ever. She is one of the smartest ones, too, and I will consider her as a leader because she always has things for you to do, delegate."
— Alberta Altidore [12:02]

Teresia's nieces and nephews described her as selfless and nurturing, often referring to her affectionately as "Matant Tilly."

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Marie Altidore: A Multifaceted Persona

Marie Altidore, Teresia's daughter, was a bright and reserved individual. Her academic prowess and linguistic talents—fluent in French, Spanish, Creole, and English—set her apart. Despite her achievements, Marie remained humble, consistently attributing her success to her faith.

Marie’s Humble Nature:

"She was about her studies, having a future, and living her best life."
— Fabiola [18:34]

Her transition to the United States marked a significant shift as she pursued higher education and career opportunities in Miami, quickly establishing herself within the community.

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A Sudden Engagement: George and Marie's Marriage

In a surprising turn of events, Marie reconnected with George Altidore, a childhood acquaintance from a nearby village. Their relationship blossomed swiftly, culminating in a lavish wedding on February 12, 1994, at Casa de Alabanza Baptist Church in Miami.

Concerns Among Family:

"I knew there was something wrong. I knew they were not in love, I could tell."
— Fabiola [22:32]

Family members noted an undercurrent of unease during the ceremony. Marie’s subdued demeanor and the choice of a Baptist church, diverging from the family's Catholic roots, raised eyebrows and fostered suspicions.

Marie’s Uncharacteristic Behavior:

"Mommy, she was so jovial. She's always smiling. That part was missing in her face the day of the wedding."
— Alberta Altidore [27:41]

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Signs of Distress: A Growing Shadow Over Happiness

Despite outward appearances of success and expansion—Marie’s career advancement, George’s professional growth, and the arrival of their daughter Sabrina—nuances of sorrow persisted within Marie. Her withdrawal from social interactions and increased paranoia hinted at underlying issues.

Marie’s Paranoia:

"We had several calls at her house where she was very paranoid and worried about things."
— Detective Ron Peluso [35:21]

An incident during Teresia’s visit highlighted Marie’s escalating mistrust. A neighbor seeking assistance with a letter was met with suspicion, leading to a police involvement that further strained Marie’s relationships.

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George Altidore: The Survivor’s Enigma

Following the massacre, George Altidore presented himself as the devastated widower. His comprehensive alibi—supported by multiple witnesses from his workplace—initially cleared him of suspicion. However, Detective Peluso's instincts suggested otherwise.

George’s Statement:

"He has no enemies, he does not owe anyone any large sums of money, and he knew of no reason why anyone would kill his family."
— Detective Ron Peluso [37:44]

Peluso, however, harbored doubts about George's account, perceiving a discrepancy between his public persona and potential hidden truths.

Detective’s Doubts:

"Believe me, you don't know what happens behind closed doors. And that was this particular case. This guy with a Jekyll and a Hyde behind closed doors was a completely different person."
— Detective Ron Peluso [38:38]

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Detective Peluso’s Investigation: Unearthing Secrets

Detective Peluso's methodical approach delved deep into the family's history, uncovering layers of complexity and potential motives. The investigation explored Marie's guarded nature and her unspoken struggles, which might have contributed to the tragic events.

Alberta’s Insights:

"I saw a sadness in her face too. Even though I don't know exactly what was going on. She did not share that with us, unfortunately."
— Alberta Altidore [33:40]

Peluso’s exploration revealed inconsistencies in George’s narratives and subtle hints towards possible internal family conflicts or external pressures.

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Clues and Conundrums: The Path to Truth

Despite George’s seemingly strong alibi, various elements—Marie’s paranoia, the family's observations of George’s distant behavior, and the lack of clear motive—complicated the case. Detective Peluso remained steadfast in his pursuit of the truth, convinced that George was concealing critical information.

Detective’s Determination:

"The more questions Paluso asked, the deeper he dug into the Altidores, the more convinced he became that George was holding back."
— David Shutes [39:11]

This persistent investigation set the stage for uncovering long-buried secrets that could explain the unfathomable violence that erupted in the Altidore household.

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Conclusion and Cliffhanger

As Detective Peluso continued to piece together the fragmented narrative of the Altidor Massacre, the lingering question remained: What hidden truths within the Altidore family led to such unimaginable violence? With George as the primary suspect but holding a seemingly unshakable alibi, the mystery deepened, promising further revelations in the subsequent episodes of Felonious Florida.

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Stay tuned for the next episode of Felonious Florida, where Detective Peluso continues his relentless quest to uncover the truth behind the Altidor Massacre.

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Notable Quotes:

• "She was high respected in the town. She was the sweetest thing ever."
  — Alberta Altidore [12:02]

• "She was outside crying. I've never seen a bride who cries like that on their wedding day."
  — Fabiola [28:12]

• "A lot of that was show, I think. Like a lot of people would tell me he's a hard working man. He works for the family. He loves his family. He wouldn't do anything wrong."
  — Detective Ron Peluso [38:38]

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For more information and to follow the investigation, visit Felonious Florida and follow us on social media.

Transcript

[David Shutes]

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[Detective Ron Peluso]

You say you'll never join the Navy.

[David Shutes]

Never Mount Fuji on a port visit.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Or break the sound barrier. Joining the Navy sounds crazy. Saying never actually is. Learn [e-mail], america's Navy forged by the.

[David Shutes]

Sea A Listener Note this episode contains descriptions of graphic violence that some listeners may find disturbing. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in court it was April 30, 1997. Albert Marty started feeling sick at around 11 o' clock in the morning. Not exactly sick like a cold or stomach bug. It was more like her nerves were telling her something was wrong.

[Alberta Altidore]

I will describe it as anxiety because my stomach was rolling, bubbling, yet it.

[David Shutes]

Was just a regular day. She was attending day classes at Bunker Hill Community College in the Boston area where she lived in. She was far from her family, including her younger sister, Marie Altidore, who lived in South Florida. A month earlier, Albert had been in Florida visiting Marie, who she called Mommy. Marie had just given birth to a second daughter, Sabrina, and their mother, Teresa. Laverne, was there in Florida too, visiting from Haiti.

[Alberta Altidore]

I told my husband, Mommy is in Florida helping Mommy let me go visit before she goes back home. And the reason why I did that because it was my birthday and then I said, let me go spend my birthday with Mommy. And it was a Easter Sunday.

[David Shutes]

It was a short trip, just four days. But it's a good thing Albert went.

[Alberta Altidore]

I will never regret that I did that because I never knew that that was my last Easter with my mom.

[David Shutes]

In fact, it would be the last time she saw her mom at all and the last time she saw her sister and baby nieces. A month after Albert left Florida, all four were viciously murdered inside the Eltador home. And on that day, April 30, Albert instinctively knew something was wrong.

[Alberta Altidore]

I don't know if it's the mother daughter connection type thing. I really don't know how to describe it, honestly.

[David Shutes]

She Told her college instructor she had to leave later. She went to work at 3:30, but when she got there, she still wasn't feeling right. In fact, she was feeling worse.

[Alberta Altidore]

That's why when I went to work, I just couldn't work for the night. I just had to leave because I felt nauseous.

[David Shutes]

Soon after she arrived home, she got an odd phone call from a cousin in Florida. Her cousin asked her if her husband was home. He wasn't. And strangely, Albert's cousin said she would call back later when he was. That second call came at around 9:00'. Clock. Albert watched her husband turn pale as he listened into the phone. He could barely hold himself together as he broke the news to his wife that her cousin didn't want to tell her directly.

[Alberta Altidore]

They didn't want me to stay around when they were describing things to him because he was too much, a little too much for me. They said that someone entered my sister's house and killed my mom, my sister and my two little nieces.

[David Shutes]

From the South Florida Sun Sentinel, this is Felonious Florida, the podcast that leads you into the dark side of the Sunshine State. David I'm David. Shoots in the last episode, police in April 1997 discovered a grisly and heartbreaking crime scene inside a home in Miramar, Florida. Four members of the Altidore family had been shot and beaten to death. Was it a targeted attack or a random and terrifying act of violence? And the most important question was who was the killer? To try to answer that, we first have to know who the Altidores were. On the surface, a young, successful immigrant family living out the American dream. But there's much more to their story. And the key to the murders may lie in the family's hidden truths. This is episode two, Secrets. The task of piecing together the details of the Altidor massacre fell to Miramar detective Ron Peluso. He was a meticulous investigator who amassed thousands of pages of notes, files, records and transcripts that make up the case file. Also in the file are recordings of Peluso's case notes that he dictated into a mini cassette recorder.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Detective Peluso, investigative NOTE this is going to be a quadruple homicide case number 9704.

[David Shutes]

The tapes are a real time recorded history of Paloozo's first steps in the investigation of the Altidor killings. He was at the scene on Crescent Drive minutes after Officer Edgar Gallardo and Sergeant John Thompson made their first sweep through the crime scene.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

I arrived at the location at 1735 hours and established contact with Sergeant Thompson. I was informed by Sergeant Thompson that his units were dispatched to said location.

[David Shutes]

Reference to DID Bonnie's Peluso describes the chilling bloody scene inside the Altidor home in stark matter of fact detail.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Upon my entrance to the residence, I observed a small infant in a bassinet located in the northeast portion of the residence. The bassinet was located in the kitchen den area. I observed a black female lying on the floor in the kitchen. A large pool of blood was observed around the victim's head.

[David Shutes]

The cassettes are old and Peluso switches them on and off frequently, so the quality of the recordings isn't consistent.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Entering the dining room portion of the residence, an additional black female was observed lying on the ground in a northerly direction. The victim was observed lying in a puddle of blood about the head and upper torso area.

[David Shutes]

Peluzzo's recordings don't mention his discovery of the fourth murder victim, a two year old girl who was found huddled in a tiny space behind a couch surrounded by blood. She was missed in the first sweep of the home, but discovered during a secondary search. So with the four victims located and crime scene techs on the way, Peluso turned his attention to the person who had just lost his entire family.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

They established contact with George L. Altidore. Mr. Altidor is the husband, father and son in law of the victims. Mr. Altidore appeared to be very distraught and emotionally upset. Mr. Altador stated that he left his residence at approximately 7:00am and he proceeded to his place of work located at 1050 East Ninth Street, Hialeah, Aqua Air. Ms. Altador further stated that from approximately 7:30 to 12:00 clock he was present in the plant. He took a lunch break from 12 to 12:30 and from 12:30 to close to 6 he was at the plant. Altidore further stated that numerous employees could vouch for the fact that he was present. Mr. Altador stated that at approximately 2pm he called his residence to speak with his wife. Mr. Altidore became concerned due to the fact he called the house numerous times and no one answered. Mr. Altamdor then contacted his brother in law and requested he go to the residence to determine if there was any problems.

[David Shutes]

And it was George's brother in law, his sister's husband, who discovered the bodies. After he established where he was during the day, George began to draw the first portrait of his family for Detective Peluso.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

I was informed by Mr. Altidore that his wife's name is Maria Camille Laverne Altidore. The date of birth is 713 67. Further informed that his mother in law is a Teresa Laverne. She's a Haitian female in her late 60s to early 70s. She recently came up from Haiti approximately a month or two ago to assist Ms. Altidore through the recent birth. The two children, Samantha Altidore is approximately two years of age. The second child, Sabrina Altidore, is approximately six weeks old. The Altidores are churchgoing people and are well liked by everyone in the community.

[David Shutes]

The story of Theresa La Verne and her daughter Marie begins in a tiny mountainous village in Haiti called Tamonde. It's a remote community. The 90 mile trip from the capital, Port au Prince could take seven hours by car along a twisting rock road. The largest building in Tamond back then was The Catholic Church, St. Joseph's the church was a central part of the La Verne family's lives and the La Verne family was a central part of Thomonde. They were prosperous by the village's standards. The La Vernes owned more than 100 acres of land which they used to grow food for their community. Teresia married her husband Ferdinand in 1958 and they raised their five children in a blue and white tin roofed house with lace curtains covering the windows and door. Theresia was the matriarch of the La Verne family, but her daughter Albert Marti says Theresia was actually the matriarch of the entire village. She was revered for her generosity for the less fortunate.

[Alberta Altidore]

She was high respected in the town. She was she her life. She was an advocate, a leader, a sweet person, high respected in my town.

[David Shutes]

Teresia's nieces, Fabiola, Martine and Regine told me that Teresia was known for her selflessness. They called their aunt Teresia Matant Tilly Matant.

[Regine DeBose]

Tilly was the motherly. She was a seamstress and she took care of all the kids, the extended family, the friends that were treated as children. So all of them pretty much looked up to her and relied on her for some type of nurturing or resource of some form in the small town.

[Fabiola]

She was loving. Oh my God, she is always smiling. Love children always want to give. Loves to feed you.

[David Shutes]

Teresia's family was everything to her. She wanted to be at every wedding and every birth. Even traveling to the States for big events after her children started to immigrate there.

[Alberta Altidore]

Every time we about to have a child, my mom will leave Haiti to come here to the United States to give us hands. She did that for Me, she came to Boston when I was having my two children. She went to California to my sister Marlene to give hands when she was having her three children, and my sister Mary Colleen Laverne in Florida to give hands.

[David Shutes]

And that's what she was doing right up to the end. Her final act of generosity for her family. It was the spring of 1997. Her youngest daughter, Marie Altidore, was living in Florida and had just given birth to her second daughter. Teresia had flown to South Florida with plans to stay for two months to help Marie's family with a newborn. She was due to return to haiti on Saturday, May 3, but she wouldn't make it home. Three days before her flight, Teresia was murdered along with her daughter and two granddaughters. In the summer of 1967, the La Verne family was thriving in the mountains of central Haiti. On July 13, Theresia gave birth to their third daughter, Marie Carmel La Verne. She wasn't the only Marie in the family, so she was given a nickname.

[Alberta Altidore]

We all call her Mommy. The town where she grew up, her friends, her siblings, my mom, my dad, they all referred to her as Mommy.

[David Shutes]

And where did that come from?

[Alberta Altidore]

Because she was the sweetest thing ever. She is one of the smartest one, too, and I will consider her as a leader because she always have things for you to do, delegate. When it comes to delegation, she's the one and she respect others and she always have a helping hand. She always there to help people.

[Regine DeBose]

Mommy was just one of a kind is the best way you can describe her. Like, we used to just sit and, you know, play jokes on each other, and we made our own entertainment. So that was pre, you know, cell phones, electronics and all of that, it didn't matter. We would sit there, tell jokes. And one thing we like to do all the time is play magic tricks, you know, with, like, beans. Remember, she would, like, trick us to make us think that she made it disappear or put it in their mouth. I mean, those are the types of games that I remember playing in the summers with Mommy and us. My brother, my sister.

[David Shutes]

Like all siblings, the Laverne kids squabbled. But Marie was always the peacemaker.

[Alberta Altidore]

As siblings, you always sometimes, you know, if things doesn't go well, she's the first one to come to apologize, to say, I'm sorry. I shouldn't say that. I shouldn't do that.

[David Shutes]

There's something else about Marie's personality that's important to know. As we go deeper into this case, it complicated the investigation, hindering Efforts to uncover crucial details about the family. Marie was jovial and friendly, but as her sister Alberta told me, she was also an extremely private person. If something was troubling Marie, even her closest family members probably weren't going to hear about it.

[Alberta Altidore]

Mommy. She was a shy person, very shy. Even when she was a little girl growing up, she was type of personality. She was not too talkative.

[David Shutes]

Her cousins Regine and Fabiola said Marie wasn't one to volunteer personal information.

[Fabiola]

She will speak when she has something to say, but she's not one to just talk, just be talking like I do. I can talk someone's ear off, but if she has something to say, she'll say something. But very respectful. She was always quiet, happy, you know, she kept to herself, didn't meddle in anybody's business.

[Regine DeBose]

That's just the norm for our family. You don't really get into people's business or, you know, have too much conversation. It's cordial, formal, and that's pretty much it.

[David Shutes]

Marie was a gifted young girl. She had a sweet soprano voice and she sang in the church choir. And she was an exceptional student, probably due to the influence of her father, Ferdinand, who was an administrator at the private Port au Prince High School that Marie attended in the 1980s. It's where she developed a love for learning languages. Marie spoke four of them.

[Regine DeBose]

French, Spanish, Creole, and English.

[Fabiola]

Wow.

[Regine DeBose]

And she was fluent in all four.

[Alberta Altidore]

So she was very bright.

[Regine DeBose]

Very bright and very focused on her studies, and she never swayed. She was always book smart and very studious.

[David Shutes]

But Marie was humble and brushed off any recognition sent her way. When somebody tried to acknowledge her accomplishments, she would usually respond, give the glory to God.

[Fabiola]

She was about her studies, having a future, and living her best life.

[David Shutes]

But the agricultural life of Tamond didn't have much to offer Marie, who wanted to take an academic path. So after she graduated from high school, she moved to the Dominican Republic to attend college. She majored in economics while working part time at the Haitian embassy. But that move was temporary. She had her sights set on the United States, where many of her siblings and cousins had already moved, and Marie was eager to follow them. So in 1993, she left the Dominican Republic and headed for a new life in Miami. Marie's transition to the Sunshine State happened at lightning speed. She quickly got a job as a toll collector along Florida's turnpike. But she knew that her fluency in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole were in high demand in South Florida. So she began taking classes and working toward her career goals.

[Alberta Altidore]

Things was Going well for her. She lived with my sister Carlene in Florida. She was in school. She went to Miami Dade Community College, pursuing her degree in administration.

[David Shutes]

But the biggest change in Marie's life happened later that year during a chance encounter when she was out shopping. She was walking through the mall at 163rd street in North Miami beach and ran into someone she recognized. A handsome and intelligent man she knew from her childhood. He'd grown up in a village just 10 miles north of Tamond. His name was George altidore. He was 30 years old at the time and had come to Florida 10 years earlier with his mother and siblings. George and Marie were happy to see each other after all these years. So they exchanged phone numbers. George began calling and visiting Marie often, and their relationship took off. For Marie, this was yet another whole new experience. She'd never been in a romantic relationship.

[Alberta Altidore]

George is the first and was the last. She never had a boyfriend in Haiti, nor in Santo Domingo.

[David Shutes]

And that's exactly what George was looking for in a woman. He had been married before and had a son with his first wife, Josianique Feedi. But the marriage went bad when Jose began seeing an ex boyfriend. George and Jose divorced in the fall of 1991. Jaded and angry, George told friends and family that he would not remarry unless he met someone who never had a boyfriend before. Less than two years later, that's exactly what he found with Marie. She was nothing like his first wife. And George became determined to MARRY this beautiful 26 year old woman from. From his past. Regine DeBose remembers exactly when she learned that her cousin Marie was getting married. Just as it did for everyone else in Marie's family, the news came as a shock. Marie and her sister Carlene came to visit Regine at her house in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.

[Fabiola]

And I remember when they came and she was sitting in the chair by the window with her older sister and they said that she was getting married. And they were asking for my sister and I to be in a wedding, to be bridesmaid. And I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, aren't we close in age? I think we're a year apart. Why are you getting married now? I didn't know you were dating. And then was like, okay, that's interesting.

[David Shutes]

Fabiola was more blunt in her reaction to her cousin's news. Marie told her during a family dinner. And Fabiola was shocked because I didn't.

[Regine DeBose]

Even know she was dating. We were like, you know what? And I'll never forget. So there's this scene that we see in Creole, like, you know, when I was young, that's how I was meaning when I was young, I was like that, like basically foolish, you know, you know, I'm past that foolish stage.

[David Shutes]

It had only been weeks since Marie's encounter with George at the mall, and that concerned her family. Although many knew George from his younger years in Haiti, not much was known about the adult George Altidore.

[Alberta Altidore]

My impression of George is, for me was the George that I knew back home. He was a polite man, respected man.

[David Shutes]

And the only other thing Albert knew was that George had been married before. It was something else for her to worry about.

[Alberta Altidore]

My concern was when mommy was dating him because he was in a previous marriage and I know he was divorced. I was afraid that, you know, if the previous marriage that George was was not, you know, something really concerning and that will affect their marriage regarding George and mommy, because, you know something, sometimes when someone got divorced and that can affect their second marriage. So that was my concern.

[David Shutes]

But Marie's upbringing and culture was a heavier influence on her than on some of her family members. They believe that at 26 years old, Marie was beginning to feel pressure to start a family.

[Regine DeBose]

That's usually the pressure they would put on you as a, you know, young woman. Like, you know, if you weren't engaged to be married. When you see a family member that you haven't seen in a couple of months, they say, so when are you going to get married? When are you going to get engaged? When are we going to meet this, you know, are you dating? When are we going to meet him?

[David Shutes]

So the engagement was set. And as the year flipped from 1993 to 1994, George didn't want to waste any time. On February 12, 1994, George and Marie were married at Casa de Alabanza church in Miami. Marie arrived in a white stretched limousine wearing a flowing white dress and a long train. The ceremony featured a grand wedding party with 17 bridesmaids in pink dresses, 10 ushers in white tuxedos, a flower girl and two ring bearers. Marie's sister Albert was the maid of honor. George's brother in law, Rochenar Serafin, was the best man. After their vows, the couple walked out of the church to a release of white doves and fireworks in front of their limousine. On the surface, it was a joyful celebration, but Marie's family told me there was a sense among them that something wasn't quite right. They were already taken aback by how quickly the wedding was arranged, and they were confused because the ceremony was held at a Baptist church. And Marie had always been a devout Catholic.

[Regine DeBose]

The family is very religious and with that, I mean, we all grew up Catholic for the most part, to the point where Marie's brother was a Catholic priest. Mommy. And all of us, we grew up Catholic. She was, she had her first communion and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. And I know at some point in her journey she. By the time I think she married George, I don't think she was a practicing Catholic any longer.

[David Shutes]

She wasn't. From the point of the wedding on, Marie became an active member of George's Baptist church.

[Alberta Altidore]

That was surprising to me because we the siblings, Mommy, Daddy, we grew up, we have the Catholic faith. I'm not saying that she shouldn't do that because she was a grown woman, but when she left the church and married with George, that was a question mark for me.

[David Shutes]

But something else was much more troubling to Marie's her behavior during the ceremony. On the wedding video, Marie seems at times overwhelmed, maybe distant. In between polite smiles, her expression is unreadable to those who don't know her. But to those who do, like her sister Albert, Marie was not herself.

[Alberta Altidore]

Mommy, she was so jovial. She's always smiling. That part was missed in her face the day of the wedding. I'm trying to be non judgmental but for me, the day of her wedding I was expecting for her to be happier.

[David Shutes]

Marie's cousin Regine saw it too. During a troubling encounter in front of the church. Regine was one of the bridesmaids and was hurrying to get to her meeting place before the ceremony.

[Fabiola]

On the day of her wedding I was willing late to go to the where we allowed to gather to walk down. She was standing outside of the church bawling and those not were happy tears. Because I know some people get happy when they're getting married and get the happy tears. She was shaking and shivering in front of the church. I was like, what's wrong? Why are you crying?

[David Shutes]

Was she by herself?

[Fabiola]

She was by herself and she was just standing there getting ready to go in. And I said, why are you shaking? And why are you crying? You know, you don't have to do this. My car's right there, let's go. We can just jump in my car and take off. You don't have to be in disguise. You don't know this person. And I remember telling my sister, I was like, I don't want to be here. This is not right. She was outside crying. I've never seen a bride who cries like that on their wedding day? It was more fear than happiness.

[David Shutes]

And so Regine and other family members watched Marie closely for the rest of the event. They didn't like what they saw. The wedding, they all told me, lacked authentic joy.

[Regine DeBose]

That wedding was not a celebration. It was more like we didn't feel the joy and the happiness that even if it's a birthday party, you would feel. Because whenever we get together, even if you were to see us now, if we were to play, have some of our cousins here, and the music was playing when they came in, they would come in dancing. You didn't experience any of that.

[Fabiola]

And I'm going back in my mind, I'm like, I knew there was something wrong. I knew they were not in love, I could tell. But then again, in our culture, it's a thing. A lot of people get married and they learn to love one another. I never understood it, but that's not me. But I don't understand it. The more I think about it, the more what I was noticing was what was happening. Well, you know, we're not very affectionate people, but you're getting married, there gotta be some holding hands or touching or smiling and happiness. I didn't see it. There were no twinkle in the eye. There was more sadness in the eye than the twinkle.

[David Shutes]

In the two years after their wedding, the milestones in George and Marie's new lives come fast. Within a month, Marie is pregnant with her daughter. Samantha is born four days after Christmas 1994. Three months later, Marie lands her first professional job in Florida as an administrative assistant in the Dade county public school system. George is promoted to supervisor at the Marine air conditioning plant where he works. And he's starting to find success selling real estate on the side. In late July of 1995, George and Marie buy the four bedroom house on Crescent Drive in Miramar and pack up their small Miami apartment. By the next summer, Marie is pregnant again. These should certainly be the happiest moments of Marie's life. But to her family, well, sometimes it was hard to tell. They say the uncharacteristic sadness they saw at the wedding never really went away.

[Regine DeBose]

She was kind of different and sometimes she just appeared sad, but she was always cordial, you know, like, you know, all the world's a stage. We're just players. So she knew how to play the part when she was on that stage. And that's just what we accepted until this happened. Then we started reflecting a little bit more than we realized. You know what? She wasn't happy she became a little bit more withdrawn. And the person who noticed it the most was my dad. And my dad, everybody knew, you know, my dad was the serious type. You know, he never raised his voice, you know, quiet. But when he spoke, he listened, and he said, you know, she changed, you know, and we expect my dad to be, you know, strict, and we used to say mean. So you expected him to, like, change how? She was like, she's not herself. Watch her.

[David Shutes]

All they could do was watch. If Marie was unhappy or having personal issues, she revealed very little, even to her sister Albert. She was always guarded.

[Alberta Altidore]

She. She was not too happy. I don't know what was or the rationale of that. I don't know really. But knowing my little sister, she was not happy. Maybe something was cooking, we didn't know about it. This is the saddest, saddest, saddest part. She did not say everything every time I call her. And then I said, you know, how's things going? How's the marriage? She was happy. Everything is okay. What do you mean by okay? She said, I'm fine. She never, never, never said anything to us. To older sisters.

[David Shutes]

By the spring of 1997, Albert was convinced something was wrong with her sister. Marie gave birth to Sabrina in March, and her mom, Theresia, had arrived from Haiti to help care for her two young granddaughters. It was also Easter weekend, and that's when Albert made the trip from Boston to Miramar to visit the Altidores. Albert described the visit as awkward.

[Alberta Altidore]

When I went there, I didn't feel welcome that much, not for mommy, but from George. He was kind of cold. George and you barely home. When he's home, he just go to his room where he has his computer working, and after that he will disappear. I myself, if I have someone like a sister in law or brother in law who come to visit, I will try to make some time for them, go around, plan something to, you know, make them enjoy their visit. But that never happened with George. It's just comment goes, and that's about it. I didn't feel that I was welcoming in the house, my sister, mommy, for the short time that I spent there. I see a sadness in her face too. Even though I don't know exactly what was going on. She did not share that with us, unfortunately. But you can see that it was not the mommy that I know.

[David Shutes]

Albert returned to Boston with her worries, but it was clear that Marie was keeping something from her, from everyone. She was becoming withdrawn since her marriage to George, less independent. She rarely went out of the house by herself. Neighbors told police even going to the mailbox at the end of the driveway was George's responsibility. There are even records in the case file that Marie had become paranoid in the months leading up to her murder.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

We had several calls at her house where she was very paranoid and worried about things.

[David Shutes]

Detective Ron Paluzzo recalled one incident that happened during Teresia's visit after Sybrina's birth.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

She actually called patrol once and said, there's somebody knocking at my door. I don't know what they want. I'm not letting him in.

[David Shutes]

The person knocking was a neighbor who was seeking help translating a letter that was written in Haitian Creole. A neighbor the Altidores supposedly knew. But rather than open the door, Marie and her mother peered through the window and refused to help. The neighbor put the letter in the Altadors mailbox and left. Marie called the police.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

So the officer patrol officer goes over, goes to the mailbox, takes out the letter, knocks on the door. Who is it? Police. How do I know you're the police? And she goes, I got my uniform, a police car out here. That's how paranoid and how concerned she was about opening the door for a stranger.

[David Shutes]

It was just weeks later that Marie, Teresia, Samantha and Sabrina were murdered. What was simmering inside the Altidor house in the months leading up to the quadruple homicide? Answering that question would provide a key to unlocking the mystery of the murders. And for Detective Paluzzo, there was one person who could answer it for sure. The only member of the family left alive.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Can you state your full name please? George. Lance.

[Alberta Altidore]

Ed.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

George. Do you mind if I call you George?

[Alberta Altidore]

No.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

You think of any person that would be someone?

[Alberta Altidore]

Absolutely not.

[David Shutes]

It was 7:30pm Less than two hours after the discovery of his slain wife, his baby daughter and his mother in law all killed in the family home. And the start of what would be a decades long investigation. George was in the interview room at police headquarters painting a spotless picture of his family's lives. Detective Peluso summarized the statements in his dictated notes.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

He has no enemies, he does not owe anyone any large sums of money and he knew of no reason why anyone would kill his family. Mr. Altador stated he has not observed any suspicious individuals by his house. Nor has he been aware of any vehicles driving past his residence in a suspicious manner. Mr. Altidor stated that he is a hard working individual. He's a member of the local Haitian church and he did not socialize or hang out in clubs.

[David Shutes]

His wife was an angel. George told the detective he loved and cherished her and there were no issues in their marriage. But detective Palozzo told me that he was dubious.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

A lot of that was show, I think. Think it's like a lot of people would tell me he's a hard working man. He works for the family. He loves his family. He wouldn't do anything wrong. Well, believe me, you don't know what happens behind closed doors. And that was this particular case. This guy with a Jekyll and a hide behind closed doors was a completely different person.

[David Shutes]

And the more questions Palozzo asked, the deeper he dug into the Altidores, the more convinced he became that George was holding back.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

George became a person of interest right away.

[David Shutes]

A person of interest or a suspect? Detective Paloozzo would have to return to the crime scene to search for that answer. On the next episode of Felonious Florida, the Altidor Massacre.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Projectile entered the rear portion of the skull and exited between the victim's eyes. This was extremely violent. I remember seeing where the hammer came down.

[Alberta Altidore]

She was the only one that could fit in that hiding spot.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Maybe she was the last one killed.

[Alberta Altidore]

Because she hides there when she's killed.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Called my wife.

[Alberta Altidore]

She wasn't there.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Tragic to call again. Keep calling. Did you receive any phone calls from Georgia out the door?

[Alberta Altidore]

If on my answer machine there was none.

[Detective Ron Peluso]

Do you owe anyone any money? No, other than obviously your mortgage. Georgio Altidore consented to a GSR test. With all that blood, where's my footprints? The thing that really sticks out of my mind mind is grown men just losing it, you know.

[David Shutes]

Thank you for listening to this episode of Felonious Florida, the Altador Massacre. If you have information about this crime or any others we've covered in this series, please call Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. That's 954, 493 tips. You can read more about the Altidor murders and see photos and videos [e-mail] and be sure to follow us on social media for updates. Felonious Florida is a production of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in association with Wondery. This season was reported and written by me, David Shutes. Sean Pitts is our sound designer. Editing by Robin Webb. Original theme music composed by Brian Sanishin. Cover art by John DeLuca and website design by Carbell Multimedia. Gretchen Day Bryant is our executive editor. Felonious Florida was created by Lisa Arthur and Juan Ortega.

[Alberta Altidore]

From the Cascades to PDX to your kitchen. We recycle like we live here. That's why governments, brands, and recycling companies are all joining together to bring change to make recycling better. As in trusting that your recyclables end up in the right places to be made into new things and having brands help fund the cost of recycling. You can find the Latest updates at recycleon.org Oregon From Mount Hood to the bin under your desk, together we can do this.