A doctor and his daughter are dead after an apparent murder-suicide on the grounds of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.
The bodies of Andrew Fogel, 56, and Rebecca Fogel, 22, both of Palm Beach County, were found on the afternoon of March 26, Seminole Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said Tuesday.
Police found that a vehicle owned by Andrew Fogel arrived at the complex minutes before the bodies were found, and that the car was parked on the eighth floor of the Winner’s Way parking garage, Bitner said.
Seminole Police haven’t said how the father and daughter died and haven’t released additional information about their case.
The investigation’s preliminary findings “point to a murder-suicide,” Bitner said.
Andrew Fogel was a legal guardian to Rebecca, who had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair, said Joel Weissman, a lawyer who represented him.
Eight days after the deaths, Weissman said he remains bewildered by them.
“I am completely unaware of why this happened,” Weissman said. “There was no indication that he was that depressed, if he did kill his child and himself. There was no indication that he was even contemplating that thought. I can’t place a reason why at this moment.”
Survivors of the Fogels are hoping to get more information soon, Weissman said.
“No one seems to know [what happened] because the tribal police do not have to release information as rapidly as the public police departments release their reports,” Weissman said. “I have not seen the report from the tribal police. His widow [Rebecca Skaggs Fogel] has no specific information. We do not have specific information about what happened.”
A lawyer for Rebecca Fogel’s mother said Cathleen Fogel, who was divorced from Andrew Fogel, also was struggling with her loss.
“She’s not well,” attorney Barry Finkel said. “It’s been very difficult to understand how this could have happened. It’s been very, very difficult for her.”
Andrew Fogel was a staff radiologist at the Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West from December 2014 until his death, a hospital spokeswoman said.
He was licensed to practice medicine in Florida and Michigan, state records show.
Fogel lived in Wellington, according to an online obituary published by the Palms West Funeral Home and Crematory.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
ljtrischitta@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta
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