Custody battle takes fatal turn as woman kills 4-year-old daughter and then herself

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HOUSTON, TEXAS: A Texas custody battle took a tragic turn on Tuesday, September 29, when a four-year-old girl was fatally shot inside a Houston home.

The shooting happened just hours after her parents appeared in family court over her custody and living arrangements.

A decision that was expected to determine where the child would live instead preceded a deadly sequence of events, as investigators work to establish what happened between the court hearing and the shooting.

Police say mother shot Vivian, then herself

Police were called to a property on Terra Reserve Place in west Houston after gunfire was reported inside the residence.

When officers arrived, they discovered four-year-old Vivian Savella and her 35-year-old mother, Cibelle Savella, upstairs.

Vivian had suffered a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cibelle was critically injured and transported to a hospital. She died from her injuries the following day.

According to investigators, a babysitter and Vivian's stepfather were inside the house when they heard the shots.

The two were downstairs and therefore did not see what happened in the room where the shooting occurred.

The timing of the incident became a central part of the investigation.

Earlier that day, Cibelle and Aaron Savella, Vivian's father, appeared at a custody hearing.

Houston Police Lieutenant Larry Crowson said the hearing had produced an unfavorable result for the mother.

Authorities said the mother subsequently returned to the residence before the shooting took place.

Aaron's legal representatives said the court had awarded him primary custody of Vivian during the hearing.

The child was expected to be transferred to her father's care later that day.

Court order limited mother's time with Vivian

Cibelle Savella, who was originally from Brazil, and Aaron Savella ended their marriage in November 2024 after roughly four years together.

Their daughter Vivian remained at the center of a continuing family court dispute.

The latest court proceedings resulted in a series of restrictions affecting Cibelle’s access to her daughter.

One of the conditions reportedly addressed the language Vivian and her mother could use when communicating.

Court filings indicated that if Cibelle spoke to Vivian in Portuguese, a supervisor who could understand the language was required to be present during the interaction.

The ruling also affected how Cibelle could participate in Vivian’s life outside the home.

She was reportedly barred from attending some of her daughter’s school performances and extracurricular activities.

The financial terms of the order added further responsibilities. She was also ordered to pay child support and half of Vivian's medical costs not covered by insurance.

Aaron’s attorney said the father had followed the legal process and was preparing to take Vivian into his primary care after the hearing.

His legal team said Vivian was deeply loved by her father and the people around her.

Investigators are now examining the period between the court hearing and the shooting as they work to establish exactly what occurred inside the Houston home.