Texas Father Speaks Out After 4-Year-Old Daughter Dies Before Court-Ordered Custody Transfer

Cibelle Savella, 35, was supposed to hand over her daughter, Vivian, to her ex-husband, Aaron Savella, on Tuesday night.Family Handout

A Texas father whose 4-year-old daughter died in a devastating incident involving his ex-wife has spoken publicly about his loss, as new details reveal that two other people were inside the Houston home when the tragedy unfolded.

Aaron Savella had been expecting his daughter, Vivian, to come home with him Tuesday evening. Earlier that day, a judge had granted him exclusive rights to make decisions regarding the child’s care following a lengthy custody dispute with his ex-wife, Cibelle Savella, 35.

The planned transfer never happened.

Houston police said Cibelle fatally shot Vivian inside the home before turning the gun on herself. Cibelle was taken to a hospital and died the following day.

Father had been expecting Vivian home that evening

During a custody hearing on Tuesday, Cibelle learned that her ex-husband Aaron was given exclusive rights to make decisions about Vivian’s care.Facebook

Attorney Stefani Shapiro, representing Aaron, released a statement on behalf of the grieving father and his family describing Vivian as a deeply loved little girl whose death had left them devastated.

The family stressed that Aaron had relied on the legal process throughout the custody dispute, following court orders while trying to protect his daughter.

On Tuesday, that process appeared to have reached a turning point. Vivian was placed in Aaron’s primary care and was expected to return home with him that evening.

She never made it there.

Shapiro also said Aaron had never accused Cibelle of physically abusing Vivian. However, he believed his daughter was potentially experiencing emotional abuse.

The family’s statement also drew attention to fathers who pursue custody concerns quietly through the courts, saying their experiences often receive little attention.

Two other people were inside the house

New information has also emerged about what was happening inside the residence when the fatal incident occurred.

Police were called to the home at approximately 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. Vivian was found dead on the third floor, while Cibelle was discovered with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Cibelle’s new husband, restaurateur Greg Kubala, and a babysitter were also inside the house at the time.

According to police and the reporting cited in the original account, the pair heard the shots and frantically forced their way into Vivian’s room.

Neither Kubala nor the babysitter is believed to have had any involvement in the shootings.

Court imposed strict new custody conditions

Cibelle was also ordered to pay Aaron child support and was only permitted to spend time with Vivian under the supervision of a Texas-based group, Guardians of Hope.Facebook

The incident occurred only hours after a significant custody hearing.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Aaron was granted exclusive authority to make decisions concerning Vivian’s care.

Cibelle’s contact with her daughter was also restricted. Harris County Judge Audrie Lawton-Evans ruled that her time with Vivian had to be supervised through the Texas-based group Guardians of Hope.

Another condition concerned Cibelle’s native Portuguese. She was not permitted to speak Portuguese with Vivian unless the supervisor present was also fluent in the language.

Cibelle was additionally ordered to pay child support, cover half of Vivian’s out-of-pocket medical expenses and stay away from the child’s school activities. She was also prohibited from consenting to Vivian’s medical treatment.

Earlier court filings reportedly stated that both parents were prohibited from disparaging each other in front of their daughter.

Bitter custody dispute followed divorce

Witnesses inside the residence said they heard the deadly shots ring out and forced their way into Vivian’s room.Facebook

Cibelle, who was originally from Brazil, and Aaron divorced in November 2024 after four years of marriage. Their separation was followed by an increasingly bitter legal battle over Vivian.

Houston Police Lieutenant Larry Crowson said the custody hearing earlier Tuesday had not gone well for Cibelle.

Hours later, Aaron was waiting for the court-ordered change in custody to take effect.

Instead, police were called to the home before Vivian could be brought to him.

For Aaron and his family, the timing has become one of the most painful elements of the tragedy: after navigating the court process and finally receiving primary care of his daughter, he was expecting Vivian home that same evening.

Cibelle’s attorney’s office declined requests for comment, according to the original report.