Texas Father Says 4-Year-Old Daughter ‘Was Supposed to Come Home’ Before Fatal Murder-Suicide

A Texas father has spoken of his devastation after his 4-year-old daughter was killed by his ex-wife just hours after a court awarded him primary control over the child’s care.

Cibelle Savella, 35, was supposed to hand her daughter, Vivian, over to her former husband, Aaron Savella, on Tuesday evening. Instead, police say she fatally shot the little girl at their Houston residence before turning the gun on herself.

The tragedy unfolded shortly after a custody hearing in which Aaron was granted exclusive rights to make decisions about Vivian’s care.

‘She Was Supposed to Come Home to Him’

Attorney Stefani Shapiro, who represents Aaron, released a statement on behalf of the grieving father and his family.

“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,” the statement said.

It added that Aaron had followed the legal process and complied with the court’s orders while trying to protect his daughter.

“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.”

The statement continued: “On Tuesday, a judge placed Vivian in his primary care, and she was supposed to come home to him that evening. She never did.”

It also highlighted the experiences of fathers who seek to protect their children through the legal system, saying their stories are often rarely told.

The Shooting Happened Inside the Houston Home

Police were called to the residence at around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers found Vivian dead on the third floor and Cibelle suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Cibelle was taken to hospital but died from her injuries the following day.

The home was not empty when the shooting occurred. Cibelle’s new husband, Greg Kubala, a restaurateur, and a babysitter were inside the residence when they heard the gunshots.

According to police and reports cited by the Daily Mail, they rushed toward Vivian’s room and forced their way inside.

Neither is believed to have been involved in the shootings.

Houston Police Lieutenant Larry Crowson confirmed that the custody hearing had taken place earlier that day.

“There was a custody hearing earlier today that didn’t go well for the mother,” Crowson said.

Custody Restrictions Had Been Imposed

Cibelle, who was originally from Brazil, divorced Aaron in November 2024 after four years of marriage. Their separation was followed by a bitter dispute over Vivian.

Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail show that Harris County Judge Audrie Lawton-Evans awarded Aaron exclusive rights to make decisions concerning Vivian’s care during Tuesday’s hearing.

Cibelle was permitted to spend time with her daughter only under the supervision of Guardians of Hope, a Texas-based organization.

She was also restricted from speaking to Vivian in Portuguese unless the supervising person was fluent in the language.

The court further ordered Cibelle to pay child support and contribute half of Vivian’s out-of-pocket medical expenses.

She was not permitted to attend her daughter’s school activities or consent to medical treatment for Vivian.

Earlier court filings also stated that both parents were prohibited from disparaging one another in front of their daughter.

Concerns Raised During the Custody Dispute

Shapiro told The Post that Aaron had never accused Cibelle of physically abusing Vivian. However, according to the attorney, he believed the child was “potentially being emotionally abused” by her mother.

Cibelle’s attorney’s office declined The Post’s requests for comment.

The circumstances surrounding the custody dispute remain part of the broader legal history between the former couple, while the shooting left Aaron and Vivian’s relatives facing the devastating consequences of a court decision that was supposed to determine where the little girl would live.

For Aaron, the outcome was especially heartbreaking: after following the court process and being granted primary care of his