Upon extinguishing the fire, Dixie County deputies discovered three deceased individuals in the residence. By then, Mrs. Reinhart was already at the familys luxury home in a gated community. The bills would also ban release of photographs, audio or video in all cases when a minor is killed by anyone, not just in domestic violence crimes. Florida sheriff's office and fire reports are shedding new light on the deaths of Paul Reinhart, 46, and his two sons, Brody, 11, and Rex, 14, who were found inside the family's burning vacation . Meanwhile, Pauls older brother Erick Von Reinhart, 49, sits in a Florida prison as a convicted murderer in a crime with eerie parallels: Erick was arrested in 2014 after fatally stabbing his ex-wifes new boyfriend just one week after their divorce then trying to take his own life with a large kitchen knife. Earlier reporting raised significant questions about why authorities werent able to track Reinhart more quickly after he disappeared with his sons and why law enforcement believed he did not own a gun. A surviving parent or spouse who was not involved in their childs death could review an autopsy report. By, See stories by Anna Wilder - Fresh Take Florida, See stories by Elisabell Velazquez - Fresh Take Florida, Voting rights groups sue over state's 'inadequate' voter registration form, Florida professor who was allegedly fired over a racial justice unit files a civil rights complaint, DeSantis signs a bill allowing the death penalty in child rape convictions, Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian folk legend, dies at 84, 7 bodies have been found during a search for missing Oklahoma teens, Here are all the best looks from the Met Gala 2023, Grieving Mother Asks Court To Block Handout Of $75,000 To Siblings Of Estranged Husband Who Killed Two Sons, Eerie Parallels: Man Suspected Of Killing Young Sons And Himself Mirrors Brother's Case. A final report covering the criminal investigation by two sheriffs offices and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in the case has been mysteriously delayed for months. That morning, sheriffs deputies scoured the region for the man and his boys. When the Senate voted, she broke into tears in the Capitol as her mother, Tammy Prince, put her arm around her to comfort her. An Alachua County deputy had heard Paul Reinhart's van was at a vacation property he owned in Dixie County, 50 miles west, so sheriff's officials reached out to authorities there via teletype at 6:39 a.m. Minde Prince Reinhart woke up at 6:30 a.m., cooked breakfast and watched SportsCenter with her sons every day. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online. The father suspected of killing his two young sons and himself this week inside a burning luxury vacation home in western Florida is the younger brother of a convicted murderer who also tried to take his own life in a similarly violent household attack seven years ago. Update or Upgrade Your Sustaining Gift Today! Founder and coach Stephen Barton said Brodys energy and drive on the field was unparalleled, and he never backed down from any challenge. His loss is profound and we are reeling.. Because of two kids like that, that you make an impression on, and you can change their lives for the better.. No answer. She found her sons cell phones in the home, so she knew she had no way of contacting them directly or tracking their location. After Reinhart family murders, new bill nears passage to shield kids' autopsy reports. We urge anyone suffering sadness, depression, or dangerous urges and their families to actively seek professional help," the family of Minde Prince Reinhart said in a statement shortly after the deaths. Is you changed your life insurance policies so I dont get any f***ing money, according to the sheriffs office report. Paul Reinhart, 46, is suspected of killing his sons, Rex, 14, and Brody, 11, setting fire to the familys waterfront vacation home in western Florida then killing himself. Ron DeSantis signing the law once it passes the full Legislature, as is expected on Thursday. Related story: Developing: Gainesville father and sons presumed dead in suspected murder/suicide in Dixie County. A lawyer for the boys mother late Tuesday formally requested that news organizations refrain from publishing any details about their deaths from the autopsy reports because it would be too upsetting. That report could answer questions about why it took so long to find Reinhart and his sons, how Reinhart secretly obtained a gun, when he began plotting the murders and whether he hinted about his plans to anyone. On Tuesday morning, Paul Reinhart killed his two young sons, then set his vacation home in Dixie County on fire and killed himself, according to reports from the Dixie County Sheriff's . The report also confirms that Paul did indeed commit suicide. Minde Reinhart, 42, had raced through darkness to the luxury home in a gated community in Gainesville where she lived until recently with her husband and sons. Rex and Brody were avid baseball players and their deaths hit their teams and friends hard. Ron DeSantis signing the law once it passes the full Legislature, as is expected on Thursday. Please understand that Minde and her family are obviously suffering an unimaginable loss. Its new lawsuit named both Mrs. Reinhart and Konrad Reinhart as defendants. But as is often the case with mental. Paul had financed Ericks legal defense, a family member said. The boys autopsies, which were released publicly, revealed that their father had shot both sons before he shot himself and set the fire even though Minde OSullivan had initially assured a 911 dispatcher that her husband did not own any guns during the frantic hours when authorities were still searching for her missing family. The Alachua County Sheriffs Office treated the report as third-hand information, spokesman Art Forgey said. This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. Get the latest coverage of the 2023 Florida legislative session in Tallahassee from our coverage partners and WUSF. Her voice trailed off, as though she was imagining the awful possibilities that morning. Minde Reinhart raced to the house she had until recently shared with Paul and their sons. The ban would cover accidents, such as car or boat crashes or cases when a child falls off an amusement park ride. Minde OSullivans charity, which raised $82,222 last year, pays for baseball facility improvements and sponsors local teams to compete in national tournaments. But a few things about him stood out to Florida Heat coach and former MLB player Gary Sheffield: Rexs signature white vans, his bright eyes and flowy, curly hair. The ban would cover accidents, such as car or boat crashes or cases when a child falls off an amusement park ride. Some details about Reinharts actions and interactions with Minde OSullivan ahead of the murders have not been previously reported. Minde OSullivan said the charity gives her a purpose, staying involved with youth baseball. . We have a unit responding and should be making contact with your deputy shortly, the sheriffs office there said. I knew I won't have my own ever again, but I have hundreds of other children and I'm going to continue to help.". He and his lawyers did not respond to phone messages this week. The policies were worth $2 million each and purchased in 2005 and 2015. This is just really weird, she said on the 911 call. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. . A cigarette lighter was the source of the blaze, the report said. . The fire caused about $100,000 in damage and was deliberately set, investigators said. Help is readily available. Two days before the murders, Paul Reinhart began moving large sums of money from the familys bank accounts: He transferred $299,000 from his business account to a personal account controlled by himself and Konrad Reinhart. Teammates, opponents and baseball enthusiasts dressed in team shirts and hats. Please come home.. 1:59:16. Kaiser and Karl Reinhart did not return messages sent to their Facebook accounts asking to discuss their brothers. Dec 1998 - Present24 years 5 months. A firefighter in protective gear wrote in his official report that the smoke was so thick inside he couldnt see. Reinhart family thanks community, urges those suffering to seek help, Man suspected of killing young sons, himself mirrors case of brother, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Paul Otto Reinhart, 46, was a successful executive of a medical device sales firm and living in a $900,000 home in Gainesville until his world began unraveling: He lost his job as president of his . She later said during a deposition in a related court dispute with Reinharts family that she had been unaware of Reinharts efforts to change his $4 million in life insurance policies. Alberto Luperon May 7th, 2021, 8:35 pm. According to independent local news station WJXT, Alachua County Sheriff's Office deputies attempted to perform a wellness chec k on Paul Otto Reinhart, 46, and his sons Rex Reinhart, 14, and Brody Reinhart, 11, at around 6 a.m. Tuesday. The final law enforcement investigative report in the case including efforts by two county sheriffs offices and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was expected to be made public next week. Update or Upgrade Your Sustaining Gift Today! The reporters can be reached at awilder@freshtakeflorida.com and evelazquez@freshtakeflorida.com, GAINESVILLE, Fla. When McKenzie McAliley, a senior at Atlantic Community High in Delray Beach , New Autopsy Reports Reveal Father Shot Sons, Self Despite Authorities Believing He Did Not Own Gun. Erick is expected to be released from prison in September 2053. It also brought attention to the need to look out for the mental health of friends and family. The reporter can be reached at thomasweber@ufl.edu. We owe it to them to keep our memories in us and play for them every time we take the field.. Fidelity said it stopped payment on the $4 million in checks it had sent to Minde Reinhart. Ericks lawyer, Lisa Baker McLean of Tampa, declined to discuss the case because there was a pending motion in court. Hundreds of residents, families and baseball players flocked to Florida Ballpark Monday evening to celebrate the lives of Rex Joseph Reinhart, 14, and Brody Michael Reinhart, 11. After family murders and suicide, Florida nears passage of a bill to shield kids' autopsy details. At 7:14 a.m., a neighbor called to report the waterfront home was burning. The boys teammates huddled on the field and took their last photo with their friends jerseys now neatly laid out in a glass case to be memorialized. I dont know.. It stressed that it was not attempting to keep the $4 million. He suffered significant carbon monoxide exposure in his blood, tests showed. Clemons said he looks forward to Gov. It was unclear whether Reinhart received Fidelitys letter mailed from the companys life insurance offices in Atlanta before he fatally shot his sons and himself four days later. On May 4, Alachua County Sheriffs deputies began searching for Paul Reinhart and Dixie County Sheriffs deputies later found him and his two sons dead in the house. Its too late Father Texted Estranged Wife On Morning He Killed Sons, Himself, WUFT 89.1 / 90.1 Featured Thank you Gifts. Paul Otto Reinhart, 46, of Gainesville had recently lost his job as president at Reinhart Medical LLC, a medical device sales company, and was in the early stages of a divorce from his wife, Minde . Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 392-5551 Two Florida boys killed by their father in apparent murder-suicide, authorities say, Charitable fund created in memory of Reinhart boys believed killed by father, Paul Reinhart texted 'You're going to live with this the rest of your life' to his wife, Expert: Reinhart tragedy shows difficulty in identifying signs of suffering. Paul Reinhart had been depressed recently but never uttered suicidal thoughts, his wife told a 911 dispatcher. Paul Otto Reinhart, 46, was a successful executive of a medical device sales firm and living in a $900,000 home in Gainesville until his world began unraveling: He lost his job as president. The fire caused about $100,000 in damage and was deliberately set, investigators said. Editors note: This story includes descriptions of suicide. The families involved in this horrific tragedy are deeply grieving and ask everyone public and press to please respect and acknowledge the appropriate time and distance they need to process this unfathomable reality, the statement reads. The teams Twitter and Facebook pages on Wednesday afternoonposted a tribute to Rex. A neighbor called at 7:14 a.m. to report the home was on fire. When you are not thinking clearly, you make decisions that are not always positive. WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | The mother of the men, Irenea Reinhart, 73, of Gainesville declined in a phone call late Wednesday to discuss her sons Paul or Erick. Dixie County deputies were able to locate Reinhart's van at a residence in their county that was found to be on fire. Rex made an immediate impact on the team and in the lives of his teammates, both on and off the field. They urgently tracked Paul Reinharts cell phone to nearby Dixie County, about 50 miles west of Gainesville, after a neighbor near the familys vacation home told Minde Reinharts friend that her husbands van was parked outside. Editors note: This story includes descriptions of suicide. We need to figure out how to pitch like Rex and play like Brody forever, Barton said. Meanwhile, she is trying to collect $10 million from her husbands estate. Paul Reinhart case: Two Florida boys killed by their father in apparent murder-suicide, authorities say. We felt her pain and wanted to support her, Brown said. The legislation said such reports contain highly sensitive descriptions of the deceased and could result in trauma, sorrow, humiliation, or emotional injury to the immediate family and minor friends of the deceased, as well as injury to the memory of the deceased.. ' Konrad Reinhart said in a deposition. Paul Reinhart of Gainesville fatally shot his two sons and then shot himself, according to autopsies released Tuesday by the District Eight Medical Examiners Office. A neighbor in Suwannee found Minde Reinharts dog, the lone survivor. The text message from her estranged husband arrived at 5:39 a.m., even as Minde Reinhart was already on the phone with a sheriffs dispatcher pleading for help and searching for answers. Most media coverage then focused on the disclosure that Reinhart had shot the boys, without graphic descriptions. The latest news and how to stay informed. The new autopsy reports were significant because they revealed for the first time that Paul Otto Reinhart, 46, of Gainesville used a firearm in the crimes. Amy Reinhart, the ex-wife, was hiding nearby and called 911. Youre so selfish. Its not just one thing and thats what makes it really, really challenging. This was just the biggest birthday gift that I could ever imagine, Minde OSullivan said. And she said, Yes, and then she got angry because the life insurance was changed into the boys name, and thats all she was concerned about was the money.. This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. Join Facebook to connect with Paul Reinhart and others you may know. Minde OSullivans charity, which raised $82,222 last year, pays for baseball facility improvements and sponsors local teams to compete in national tournaments. "You should have put your family first," Paul Otto Reinhart, 46, wrote her in a text reported by The Gainesville Sun. This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. What Im asking you to do today, with this bill, is to put into the shade the gory photographs, the descriptions, the videos, etc. The bills were sponsored by two Alachua County lawmakers: Rep. Charles Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, and Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville. It was so emotional.. Reinharts body was found collapsed nearby. The family, which ran a lucrative medical device sales company, was prominent in the regions social and political circles. Meanwhile, her sons legacy may be legislation The Rex and Brody Act that is so far sailing through the state Legislature. Paul Reinhart had also updated his will just weeks before the killings to prevent his. According to official police reports, Minde Reinhart received a text from Paul Reinhart at 5:39 a.m. on Tuesday morning that read: You should have put your family first. 2023 www.gainesville.com. She later said during a deposition in a related court dispute with Reinharts family that she had been unaware of Reinharts efforts to change his $4 million in life insurance policies. Minde OSullivan pleaded with lawmakers to draft a bill so no surviving parent has to undergo the same hurt ever again, Clemons said. Dixie County authorities were called after Alachua County sheriff's deputies were unable to locate the three following a well-being check at their Gainesville home at the request of Reinhart's wife, Minde Prince Reinhart. Amy Reinhart was stunned by the news of Paul's actions when a reporter visited her home north of Tampa to talk about the case. Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 392-5551 The sides settled their probate fight in July, according to court records. She said she still struggles to discuss her sons death. What Im asking you to do today, with this bill, is to put into the shade the gory photographs, the descriptions, the videos, etcof minors who have been murdered, he told lawmakers on the judiciary committee last month. She married baseball coach Kevin OSullivan on Sept. 24. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Their two sons, Rex and Brody, were youth baseball players in the area, and the family wasfriends with University of Florida baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan. I knew I wont have my own ever again, but I have hundreds of other children and Im going to continue to help.. In its lawsuit filed earlier this month, Fidelity said Minde Reinhart requested the $4 million payout through her attorney on May 14. Hundreds Gather At Florida Ballpark To Honor Lives Of Boys Killed By Father. What happened over the next two hours was a tragedy beyond measure. But detectives later found two 9mm Glock pistols in the burned home in Suwannee. by their father, 46-year-old Paul Reinhart, on May 4 before he set fire to their Dixie County home and killed himself. Reinhart is the younger brother of a convicted murderer who also tried to take his own life in a similarly violent household attack seven years ago. They permitted full payouts in the instance of suicide as long as Reinhart hadnt killed himself for at least two years after buying them. After the audience swayed to Take Me Out to the Ballgame, seats emptied and the crowd dwindled. Reach out for it.". Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. The bills would also ban release of photographs, audio or video in all cases when a minor is killed by anyone, not just in domestic violence crimes. A family member phoned in the request after Paul posted a series of "cryptic" Facebook updates . Minde OSullivan made clear to lawmakers she did not want to learn details of her sons deaths in a case that generated public interest across Florida because it would be too upsetting. DeSantis is widely expected to sign the measures into law. He wasnt being treated for mental illness or taking psychiatric medication, she said. Photographs and videos taken during autopsies are already blocked from public view under existing Florida law. . Paul Reinhart, 46, had disappeared into the night with the couple's two young sons." . Erick left his own children, then 5 and 6, home alone during the attack, authorities said. The company said it sent her two checks, for just over $2 million each, which also included small amounts of overpaid premiums and unpaid interest. I was unaware he bought one two weeks prior, she said in a recent interview. Minde OSullivan pleaded with lawmakers to draft a bill so no surviving parent has to undergo the same hurt ever again, Clemons said. It would also cover evidence of deaths of children in cases that may have been handled or mishandled by government regulators, such as Floridas Department of Children and Families. While Minde OSullivan attended legislative hearings in Tallahassee, she also founded and focused her efforts on the Rex & Brody Foundation. Within minutes, deputies in Alachua County began searching for Reinhart and the boys, according to dispatch records obtained under Floridas public records law. He had stopped texting, she told a 911 dispatcher. The fund is being administered by theCommunity Foundation of North Central Florida. Deputies there arrived minutes too late. Similar efforts failed in Tallahassee last year. Konrad Reinhart did not return a phone message left at his home. Paul told me that she told him to go kill yourself multiple times, and Paul said, Are you serious? Konrad Reinhart said in a deposition. Iliff said she had heard news reports this week about the father suspected of killing his children and himself but did not know until a reporter told her that the suspected killer was Paul, the younger brother of the man sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing her own son. See who you know in common. A surviving parent or spouse who was not involved in their childs death could review an autopsy report. Those seeking help are encouraged to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. On Tuesday morning, Paul Reinhart killed his two young sons, then set his vacation home in Dixie County on fire and killed himself,according to reports from the Dixie County Sheriff's Office. The security system had been disabled, so there was no video of anyone arriving or leaving. It would cover killings even by police or sheriffs deputies and even if there were questions about whether they acted lawfully in such cases. After family murders, suicide, Florida nears passage of bill to shield kids autopsy details, Behind the scenes of Floridas efforts to purge schools of books deemed improper, Hidden violence: Elder abuse was already hard to track then a pandemic made it more difficult, Hit snooze: Bills would delay middle, high school start times, Florida LGBTQ+ lawmaker to GOP: Im literally trying to exist, Clinics Say Privacy Clause Protects Abortion Rights, Six former Florida Gators selected during NFL Draft, Hurricane Preparedness Week begins in Florida, The Point, May 1, 2023: Lawmakers approve change to resign-to-run law. The Pasco County sheriff, Chris Nocco, said Erick pleaded with deputies, Kill me, kill me, but he was hospitalized and pleaded guilty in November 2018. The two were friends for years and began dating after the murders. They warned Brodys elementary school to be on the lookout, checked a local gym, advised nearby hotels to report any sightings, checked the familys local Catholic church. Now, authorities say, Reinhart is suspected of killing his sons, Brody, 11, and Rex, 14, early Tuesday at the familys waterfront home near Suwannee on Floridas west coast, 50 miles from Gainesville, before setting it on fire and killing himself. The boys autopsies, which were released publicly, revealed that their father had shot both sons before he shot himself and set the fire even though Minde OSullivan had initially assured a 911 dispatcher that her husband did not own any guns during the frantic hours when authorities were still searching for her missing family. Rex, 14, and Brody, 11, both had fatal gunshot wounds, according to autopsies. Letsgetstarted. On the right, Paul O. Reinhart, 46, of Gainesville, is seen in this selfie he posted to his Facebook account on Sept. 13, 2019. There was no one to save, the firefighter wrote. In the probate case, Minde Reinhart filed a claim in September for $10 million against her husbands estate, citing the wrongful death by murder of her sons. DeSantis is widely expected to sign the measures into law. WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | But the sense of community overwhelmed the ballpark. Her depressed husband who separated from his wife and recently lost his high-paying executive job had bizarrely published 64 photos from their wedding 19 years ago to his Facebook page at 5 a.m. Texts to Minde around the same time which ended abruptly made clear he blamed her for their pending divorce. The new reports said Reinhart shot both sons before he shot himself and set the fire. May 7, 2021 Fresh Take Florida, Law and public safety. Before Paul Reinhart allegedly killed his two sons, and then himself, on May 4, the unemployed medical device salesman sent his estranged wife Minde an ominous message, according to . A Florida man suspected of killing his two sons and himself while burning down their vacation home allegedly also tried to place some kind of moral blame on his estranged wife. On Tuesday, May 4, the Heat family was shocked and devastated to learn of the tragic death of teammate, Rex Reinhart, and his brother, Brody, the post states. In that case, Konrad Reinhart was fighting efforts by Minde Reinhart to obtain confidential files from Withers Harvey, the Gainesville law firm that handled the updated will that excluded her. Tributes from the boys mother, coaches, neighbors, teammates and friends offered a glimpse into their personalities. Minde OSullivan said the charity gives her a purpose, staying involved with youth baseball. He was kind, generous, funny, talented, and a bit of a fashion icon with his flow and sunglasses. Paul Reinhart posted personal photos of his wedding and family without any details to his Facebook account as recently as 5 a.m. Tuesday. The men have at least three other brothers: Karl Wilhelm Reinhart, 47, of Tampa; Konrad Rolf Reinhart, 44, of Gainesville; and Kaiser Wilhelm Reinhart, 43, of Chula Vista, California. The new autopsy reports were significant because they revealed for the first time that Paul Otto Reinhart, 46, of Gainesville used a firearm in the crimes. Erick Reinhart is serving a 40-year murder sentence in a Florida prison and could be released as early as July 2053. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online. The reports made available Tuesday describe the fatal injuries of the brothers, Rex, 14, and Brody, 11, and their father. Minde O'Sullivan, 44, of Gainesville said her new marriage to the University of Florida baseball coach, Kevin OSullivan, and a non-profit foundation she created in honor of her boys, Rex Reinhart, 14, and Brody Reinhart, 11, have given her a new purpose in life.