May 5, 2025 • 23 mins
A shocking true crime case unfolds in Pompano Beach, Florida, when beloved teacher Lauren Russo is found strangled to death in her own home. As police uncover a web of lies, betrayal, and infidelity, all eyes turn to her husband, Mick De Gatto, a charming real estate agent with a dark secret. But the biggest twist? Lauren was pregnant with another man’s twins, a fact Mick never knew before he committed murder in a jealous rage.
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Pompino Beach, Florida, a picturesque coastal town known for its
sunny beaches and luxurious homes. But in April twenty nineteen,
this paradise became the backdrop for a brutal and heart
wrenching crime. A young woman excited to share the happiest
news of her life would never get the chance to
see her dreams come true. What should have been a
moment of celebration ended in betrayal, violence, and murder. This
(00:23):
is true Crime Case Files, and today we dive into
the tragic case of Lauren de Gaddo, a devoted wife
and soon to be mother whose life was taken far
too soon. Lauren de Gaddo was a thirty one year
old elementary school teacher in Pompino Beach, Florida. She was
well loved by her students at Palm Crest Elementary, where
she taught third grade. Known for her patience and warm personality,
(00:46):
she had a way of making every child feel special.
Parents often praised her dedication, and she spent countless late
nights grating papers in planning creative lessons. Born and raised
in Florida, Lauren came from a close knit Italian American family.
She was the youngest of three siblings, with two older brothers,
Anthony and David, who were fiercely protective of her. Her parents,
(01:08):
Vincent and Maria Degado, had owned a small, family run bakery,
the Gaddo's Pastries, for over two decades. Growing up, Lauren
spent weekends helping at the bakery, rolling dough and decorating cookies.
She carried that same work ethic into her teaching career,
always striving to make a difference in her student's lives.
She attended Florida Atlantic University, where she majored in education.
(01:30):
During college, she was a member of the Future Educators
of America Club and spent summers working at the Boys
and Girls Club. Lauren dreamed of one day becoming a
school principal, but more than anything, she wanted to have
a big family. In twenty fourteen, she married Mick Degado
after a whirlwind romance. They met at a charity fundraiser
hosted by a mutual friend, and their connection was instant.
(01:53):
Make A confident and charming real estate agent swept her
off her feet with his grand gestures, weekend getaways to
Key West, expensive dinners at restaurants, like Cafe Martrano in
Fort Lauderdale and a romantic proposal on the beach at sunset.
At first, their life together seemed perfect. They lived in
a beautiful home just a short drive from Pompino Beach Pier,
(02:14):
and Lauren looked forward to building a future with him.
But beneath the surface, trouble brood. Lauren began noticing mixed
late nights, unexplained absences, and flirtatious behavior with other women.
Friends whispered about his wandering eye, and though she never
caught him in the acte down, she knew then. In
April twenty nineteen, Lauren got life changing news she was
(02:36):
pregnant with twins. Overwhelmed with joy, she saw this as
a fresh start, a reason for Mick to finally commit
to their marriage. She carefully planned a romantic dinner at home,
envisioning the perfect evening candles, a home made Italian meal,
and a tiny gift box with a positive pregnancy test inside.
She never got to share the news. On the morning
(02:56):
of April nine, twenty nineteen, Lauren's older sister, Danielle Russo,
grew anxious when her calls and texts went unanswered. The
two were supposed to meet for breakfast at Lester's Dyinger,
a well known spot in Fort Lauderdale where they had
been going since childhood. Lauren was always on time and
she never ignored her phone. After several failed attempts to
(03:17):
reach her, Danielle decided to drive to Lauren's house. The
small two story home sat in a quiet, well kept
neighborhood just a few blocks from Pampina Beach High School.
As she pulled into the driveway, she noticed Laurence car
was parked outside, which only deepened her concern. Danielle knocked
on the front door and waited no answer. She rang
(03:38):
the doorbell, still nothing. Remembering the spare key hidden beneath
a large ceramic flower upon on the porch, she retrieved
it and let herself inside. The house was eerily still.
The usual sounds of Lauren's favorite morning radio show, Elvis
Duran and The Morning Show were absent. The scent of
fresh coffee and vanilla candles that usually filled the home
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was gone. Danielle called out, her voice trembling, but the
silence was suffocating. She stepped toward the master bedroom, her
heart pounding as she pushed the door open. A horrifying
sight awaited her. Lauren's lifeless body lay on the floor,
partially wrapped in a crumpled bed sheet. Her skin was pale,
and her lips were slightly parted, as if she had
(04:19):
tried to gasp for air. A deep, dark bruise encircled
her neck, the unmistakable mark of strangulation. The bedroom, usually
neat and organized, looked like a scene of chaos. A
night stem lamp had been knocked over, its bulb shattered
on the hardwood floor. A framed wedding photo of Lauren
and Mick lay face down on the dresser. The glass cracked.
(04:39):
Daniel's eyes moved to Lauren's right hand. Clutched tightly in
her fingers was a white plastic pregnancy test, the result
still visible. The weight of the moment crashed over her.
Her legs gave out, and she dropped to her knees,
a scream ripping from her throat. For a long moment,
she couldn't breathe couldn't think. Then, with shaking hands, she
(05:00):
rabbed her phone and dialed nine one one. When the
dispatcher answered, her voice barely came out, My bleeping sister,
she's bleeping dead. Pompino Beach police arrived at Lauren Degado's
home just minutes after Danielle Russo's frantic nine one one call.
The flashing red and blue lights of patrol cars reflected
off the wet pavement as officers secured the area, keeping
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curious neighbors at a distance. Detective Carl Bennett, a seasoned
investigator with fifteen years on the force, took the lead.
Known for his methodical approach, Bennett had worked on some
of Broward County's most high profile cases. He was joined
by forensic specialist Olivia Marx, who had a reputation for
noticing the smallest details others might miss. Inside the house,
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officers moved carefully, documenting everything. The crime scene was unsettling.
There were no broken locks, no shattered windows, nothing to
indicate a forced entry. The only sign of struggle was
on Lauren's body, bruises on her wrists and a deep
bligatory mark around her neck. Whoever had done this had
been closed to her, someone she had trusted. The master
(06:05):
bedroom was in disarray. A lamp lay shattered on the floor,
its cord tangled around the base. The bedding was rumpled,
and a bedside drawer stood open, its contents spilling onto
the floor. A jewelry box remained untouched, and Lawrence purse
sat on the dresser, still holding her wallet and keys.
This was not a robbery. Near the body, officers found
(06:27):
a braided leather belt. It had been left discarded near
the foot of the bed, and upon closer inspection, it
appeared to have been used as the murder weapon. The
belt was later identified as belonging to Lauren's husband, Mick Dagago.
Marks carefully examined Lauren's body, noting the signs of strangulation.
The killer had used great force, pressing down hard enough
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to leave deep bruises on her throat. Her fingernails were
broken in places, suggesting she had fought back, clawing at
her attacker's hands of the belt around her neck. In
the adjoining bathroom, investigators found a single glass with a
small amount of red wine still in it. A second
glass sat on the kitchen counter untouched. It appeared Lauren
had been expecting someone that night. Detective Bennett pieced together
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the evidence. There was no sign of an intruder. The
attack was personal, deliberate. Someone had been close enough to
her to enter the house without a struggle, someone who
knew exactly where she would be. The investigation quickly turned
toward Lauren's husband, Mickdgado. Mick Degado, thirty five, was a
successful real estate agent in South Florida, known for selling
(07:31):
high end homes in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. His polished adheerance,
smooth talking charm, and confident demeanor made him popular among
clients and colleagues, But outside of work, Mick had a
different reputation, one of a willaneizer. Friends admitted he often
flirted with other women, even when Lauren was nearby. Some
had even heard the couple argue about his infidelities in
(07:52):
the past. Lauren's sister, Danielle, told investigators that Lauren had
long suspected Mick of cheating, but had never found the
strength to leave. The news of her pregnancy had been
a final attempt to save their marriage. She hoped it
would change him. Instead, it may have sealed her fate.
When detectives brought Mick in for questioning on April ninth,
twenty nineteen, he arrived at the station looking disheveled, his
(08:14):
usual confidence shaken. He claimed he had been with a
client at a luxury condo showing during the time of
Lauren's murder. He insisted he had nothing to do with
her death, appearing shocked when detectives revealed the crime scene details.
But Mick's alibi quickly fell apart. Investigators pulled his phone
records and discovered that his phone had been paying off
sell towers near his home the entire evening. He hadn't
(08:37):
been in Miami, as he claimed, he had been in
Pompino Beach. Security footage from a neighbor's ring doorbell camera
showed Mick leaving the house just after midnight, shortly after
the estimated time of Lauren's death. He drove away in
his black b M e x five alone. Detectives noted
how calm he looked, as if nothing had happened. Then
there were the scratches. Mick had deep, fresh claw marks
(08:59):
running down his fore arms, the kind that could have
been made by someone fighting for their life. When asked
about them, he gave a rehearsed answer he had fallen
at the gym while lifting weights. Investigators weren't convinced. The
autopsy report revealed Lauren had likely scratched her killer during
the struggle. Desperate to pry the belt from her neck.
The marks on mixed arms lined up perfectly. Detectives pressed
(09:22):
him further, but Mick refused to change his story. He
was confident there was no solid proof tying him to
the murder, but with every piece of evidence stacking up
against him, investigators believed they had their prime suspect. Ava
Carter twenty eight, worked as of our tender at Viike's Inn,
a trendy nightclub in downtown Fort Lauderdale known for its
neam lit decor and exclusive VIP section. Haba had a
(09:45):
reputation for being bold, flirtatious, and always the center of attention.
She had thousands of Instagram followers, often posting pictures of
her nights out, expensive drinks, and designer outfits. Detectives learned
that Ava and Mick had been spotted together multiple times
over the past few months. Some witnesses claimed they were
more than just friends. Others described seeing them arguing outside
(10:08):
the club. Lauren had suspected Mick was cheating, and Ava
was at the top of her list of potential mistresses.
When investigators brought Ava in for questioning, she was defensive
from the start. She insisted she had nothing to do
with Lauren's murder and that people were trying to drag
her name into something just because she had a history
with Mick. She admitted they had been seeing each other casually,
(10:29):
but claimed it was over. Ava provided his strong alibi.
She had been working at b Ike's Inn the entire
night Lauren was killed. Security footage confirmed her presence behind
the bar, mixing drinks and chatting with customers. Multiple patrons
and co workers also backed up her story, but the
footage revealed something else that piqued investigator's interest. Just hours
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before Lauren was murdered, Mick had visited the night club.
The security cameras captured him slipping into the VIP section
where Ava was working for nearly twenty minutes. Witnesses said
the conversation seemed heated, with Ava waving her hands and
Mick leaning in close, his expression tense. Had Mick been
planning something? Was he confiding in Ava before taking Lauren's life,
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or was Eva more involved than she let on. A
deeper look into her phone records showed that Mick had
called her three times the night of the murder. The
last call came just minutes before he left his house
after Lauren's death, but without direct proof that Eva had
any role in the crime, detectives had to keep looking elsewhere.
Ava walked out of the police station that day a
free woman, but suspicion still followed her. Some believed she
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knew more than she was saying. Others wondered if Mick
had used her as an emotional crutch before committing an
unspeakable act. For now, though, she remained a person of interest,
just not the prime suspect. On April twelve, twenty nineteen,
just three days after Lauren Degado's murder, the Broward County
Medical Examiner's Office released its official autopsy report. The cause
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of death was confirmed as strangth with severe bruising around
her neck and signs of a violent struggle. But the
report contained something else, something that changed the entire investigation.
Lauren had been pregnant and Nick wasn't the father. Forensic
specialists conducted a routine DNA test on the unborn twins.
The results revealed that the biological father was someone else,
(12:21):
someone completely unexpected. This discovery sent detectives in a new direction.
They needed to find out who Lauren had been involved with,
how long the affair had been going on and whether
this secret relationship had played a role in her murder.
Investigators scored Lauren's phone records, emails, and social media accounts
looking for any clues. A pattern soon emerged, late night texts,
(12:43):
hidden calls, and a name that kept coming up. Doctor
Ryan Caldwell Doctor Caldwell, thirty eight was a respected pediatrician
at Memorial Hospital West Well. Liked by both patients and colleagues.
He had a reputation as a devoted doctor and a
loving father of two, but behind closed, he had been
leading a double life. Ryan and Lauren had met at
(13:04):
a charity galap in twenty eighteen. She had attended as
a guest of a fellow teacher, while he had been
one of the event's sponsors. Witnesses later recalled seeing them
deep in conversation that night, laughing and exchanging numbers. Over time,
their connection grew into something more. While Lauren had struggled
in her crumbling marriage, Ryan had been unhappy in his own.
By early twenty nineteen, their relationship had turned into a
(13:26):
full fledged affair. When Lauren discovered she was pregnant, she
had been overjoyed. She believed this was a fresh start,
a new life away from Mick, but she had never
told Ryan the truth. Investigators found no evidence that he
even knew about the pregnancy. The news of Lauren's affair
fueled mixed rage. He had already suspected she was hiding something,
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but the confirmation, likely discovered the night of the murder,
pushed him over the edge. Lauren had planned to break
the news over a romantic dinner, but Mick found out
before she had the chance. Mick hadn't just killed his
wife in a jealous fit of rape. He had killed
her over a betrayal he never saw coming. Now, detectives
needed to prove it in Court Part seven Investigation of
(14:08):
Suspect No. Three. As detectives dug deeper into Lauren de
Gaddo's murder, a new name surfaced, Victor de Gado, Mick's
older brother at thirty nine. Victor had a checkered past.
Once a decorated officer with the Miami Day Police Department,
he had been fired in twenty fifteen after an internal
investigation uncovered misconduct involving excessive force and falsified reports. Since then,
(14:33):
he had bounced between security jobs, Struggling to keep steady work.
Victor had never been fond of Lauren. Family members recalled
tense holiday gatherings where he barely spoke to her, and
former coworkers mentioned that he often referred to her in
dismissive tones. He had always been loyal to Mick, defending
his younger brother's behavior even when others disapproved. With his
(14:54):
troubled history and open dislike for Lauren, Victor quickly became
a person of interest. Investigators questioned him about his whereabouts
on the night of April eighth, twenty nineteen. He claimed
he had been at home watching a Miami Marlins gang
and later met up with friends at a local bar, Flanagan's,
a popular South Florida chain known for its seafood and
(15:15):
casual atmosphere. Detectives obtained security footage from multiple locations. Cameras
outside Victor's apartment complex showed him leaving just before nine
o'clock PM and arriving at Flanagans twenty minutes later. Additional
footage from inside the bar captured him drinking with friends
until well past midnight. Transaction records confirmed he had used
his credit card for multiple purchases that evening, including a
(15:38):
bar tab and a ride chair trip home around two
o'clock am. With this airtight alibi, Victor was ruled out
as a suspect. There was no way he could have
been at Lauren's house during the estimated time of the murder.
That left detectives with only one viable suspect, Mick Degado.
The evidence against Mick was piling up. His alibi had collapsed,
(15:59):
his fingerprints were on the leather belt found near Lauren's body,
and scratches on his forearms suggested a struggle. Now, with
Victor eliminated from the list of possible culprits, investigators focused
all their efforts on building an ironclad case against Mick.
As authorities prepared to make an arrest, they faced one
final challenge, finding a motive that would stand up in court.
(16:20):
Lauren's affair and pregnancy had shattered mixed pride, but prosecutors
needed to prove that these revelations were enough to drive
him to murder. Time was running out, and Mick was
starting to sense that the walls were closing in. On
the morning of April fifteen, twenty nineteen, detectives arrived at
the sleek downtown Fort Lauderdale office of Degado Realty, a
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high rise building was bustling with professionals in tailored suits,
unaware that one of their colleagues was about to be
taken into custody. Mick Degado sat at his desk, scrolling
through his phone. When officers entered. At first, he was composed,
greeting them with a casual confidence, but as soon as
Detective Carl Bennett informed him he was under arrest for
(17:01):
the murder of his wife, the colored drained from his face.
Colleague stood frozen as Mick was handcuffed, his expensive rolecks
glinting under the fluorescent lights. Employees whispered as he was
let out of the office, escorted past the glass walled
conference rooms where he had once closed million dollar deals
at the station, Mick remained silent until investigators presented him
(17:22):
with the autopsy report. When they revealed that Lauren had
been pregnant with twins that weren't his, his confident demeanor shattered.
His hands trembled as he leaned back in his chair, muttering,
that's not possible, but the DNA results didn't lie. In
that moment, Mick realized the cruel irony he had murdered
Lauren to avoid fatherhood, believing he was about to be
(17:43):
trapped in a life he never wanted, but the twins
had never been his in the first place. Lauren's family
had been dreading this moment, but when the call came
confirming Mix's arrest, the pain hit them like a fresh wound.
Her mother collapsed onto the couch, weeping. Her father gripped
the kitchen, countering his head in disbelief. Danielle Russo, Laurence's sister,
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couldn't hold back her sobs. She clutched Lauren's favorite sweater,
the one she always wore on Chili Florida Knights, and
whispered through her tears she deserved so much better. News
of mix arrests spread quickly. Local media outlets covered the story,
with headlines like man charged in wife's murder appearing across
South Florida news stations. True crime fans dissected every detail,
(18:26):
speculating about mixed motive and the identity of the twins
real father. As Mick sat in his holding cell, the
reality of his situation sank in the life he had built,
the luxury cars, the beachfront condo, the knights at high
end Fort Lauderdale Clubs was gone. He wasn't just facing
the loss of his freedom, he was facing the consequences
(18:46):
of his own blind rage. The case against Micdigado was airtight.
Now it was only a matter of time before justice
was served. By the time Mickdegado's trialed again in early
December twenty nineteen, the case had become one of the
most talk about crimes in South Florida. News stations like
w PLG and CBS Miami covered every detail, and courtroom
(19:07):
sketches of Mick and his tailored suit made their rounds
on social media. True crime podcasts dis sected the case,
drawing comparisons to other high profile domestic homicides. Inside the
Broward County Courthouse, the prosecution, led by State Attorney Robert Klain,
laid out a damning case. They described Mick as a cold,
narcissistic man who saw his pregnant wife as nothing more
(19:30):
than an obstacle to his freedom. They showed jurors security
footage of mixed sneaking out of his home the night
of the murder, as well as photos of the leather
belt found near Lauren's body, the same belt he had
worn in real estate promotional photos. Witnesses took the stand.
One by one, Lauren's sister, Danielle Russo, broke down as
she described finding her sister's lifeless body. Forensic experts explained
(19:53):
how Lauren had fought back her fingernail scrapings containing traces
of mixed skin. A financial analyst testified the Mick was
drowning in debt, contradicting his image as a successful real
estate model. The defense, led by public defender Melissa Hart,
tried to counter these arguments. They claimed Mick had acted
in the heat of the moment, overcome with emotional distress
(20:14):
after learning of Lauren's pregnancy. They painted him as a
desperate man who snapped under pressure, but their case had
little to stand on. The DNA evidence proved the twins
weren't his, exposing the twisted irony of the crime. It
took the jury just four hours to reach a verdict.
On December tenth, twenty nineteen, Mick Degado was found guilty
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of first degree murder. The courtroom was silent as the
judge handed down his sentence life in prison without the
possibility of parole. Mick barely reacted. He stared straight ahead,
his jaw clenched as if he still couldn't believe what
had happened. Lauren's family held each other, trying to process
the moment. There was relief justice had been served, but
(20:56):
it didn't erase the pain. The holidays were approaching, and
in instead of celebrating, they were mourning a daughter, a sister,
a mother who never got to meet her unborn children.
The case of State of Florida Mickdgado became a tragic
reminder of how jealousy, betrayal, and violence could destroy lies.
Mick would spend the rest of his days behind bars,
(21:16):
while Lauren's memory lived on in the hearts of those
who loved her. Mick Degado now spends his days inside
the concrete walls of Florida State Prison, a far cry
from the luxury waterfront homes he once sold. The man
who had once attended exclusive real estate galas and driven
a sleek black portioning now wears a prison uniform. His
future reduced to a lifetime behind bars. His fall from
(21:40):
grace was complete. Eva Carter, the nightclub bartender whose name
had been dragged into the investigation, wasted no time leaving Florida.
She deleted her social media accounts, cut ties with old friends,
and moved out of state, hoping to start over far
from the scandal. The media circus surrounding the case had
been relentless, and she wanted no part of it. Victor
(22:01):
de Gado, Mick's older brother, remained in Florida, but disdanced
himself from his sibling. The two had never been particularly close,
but after the trial, Victor made it clear he wanted
nothing to do with Mick ever again. Once a police
officer with a promising career, Victor's past mistakes had cost
him his badge. Now his brother's crime had forever tainted
their family name. For Lauren's family, the pain of losing
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her never faded, but trial had delivered justice, but no
sentence could bring her back. That December, instead of celebrating
the holidays with Lauren's laughter filling the room, they faced
an empty chair at the dinner table. Determined to honor
her memory, Lauren's family created the Lauren Rousso Memorial Scholarship,
offering financial aid to young women pursuing careers in education.
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Lauren had always believed in the power of learning, and
her loved ones wanted to ensure her passion lived on.
In the months following her murder, Domations poured in from
across the country, many from people who had never met
Lauren but had been moved by her tragic story. The
scholarship was just one way Lauren's name would be remembered.
Friends shared stories about her kindness, her ability to make
(23:07):
others feel special, and the way she lit up any
room she entered. Her students, some too young to fully
understand what had happened, asked when she was coming back.
And then there were the unborn twins, the children who
never got a chance to take their first breaths. Their
tiny lives were stolen before they even began. Lauren Russo's
story had ended too soon, but her love, her dreams,
(23:28):
and her legacy would never be forgotten. Infidelity, deception, a
brutal murder driven by fear and selfishness. Lurne de Gaddo's
story is a tragic reminder that even in the most
picturesque places, darkness can lurk beneath the surface. This has
been True Crime Case Files. Until next time. Stay safe,
Pompino Beach, Florida, a picturesque coastal town known for its
sunny beaches and luxurious homes. But in April twenty nineteen,
this paradise became the backdrop for a brutal and heart
wrenching crime. A young woman excited to share the happiest
news of her life would never get the chance to
see her dreams come true. What should have been a
moment of celebration ended in betrayal, violence, and murder. This
(00:23):
is true Crime Case Files, and today we dive into
the tragic case of Lauren de Gaddo, a devoted wife
and soon to be mother whose life was taken far
too soon. Lauren de Gaddo was a thirty one year
old elementary school teacher in Pompino Beach, Florida. She was
well loved by her students at Palm Crest Elementary, where
she taught third grade. Known for her patience and warm personality,
(00:46):
she had a way of making every child feel special.
Parents often praised her dedication, and she spent countless late
nights grating papers in planning creative lessons. Born and raised
in Florida, Lauren came from a close knit Italian American family.
She was the youngest of three siblings, with two older brothers,
Anthony and David, who were fiercely protective of her. Her parents,
(01:08):
Vincent and Maria Degado, had owned a small, family run bakery,
the Gaddo's Pastries, for over two decades. Growing up, Lauren
spent weekends helping at the bakery, rolling dough and decorating cookies.
She carried that same work ethic into her teaching career,
always striving to make a difference in her student's lives.
She attended Florida Atlantic University, where she majored in education.
(01:30):
During college, she was a member of the Future Educators
of America Club and spent summers working at the Boys
and Girls Club. Lauren dreamed of one day becoming a
school principal, but more than anything, she wanted to have
a big family. In twenty fourteen, she married Mick Degado
after a whirlwind romance. They met at a charity fundraiser
hosted by a mutual friend, and their connection was instant.
(01:53):
Make A confident and charming real estate agent swept her
off her feet with his grand gestures, weekend getaways to
Key West, expensive dinners at restaurants, like Cafe Martrano in
Fort Lauderdale and a romantic proposal on the beach at sunset.
At first, their life together seemed perfect. They lived in
a beautiful home just a short drive from Pompino Beach Pier,
(02:14):
and Lauren looked forward to building a future with him.
But beneath the surface, trouble brood. Lauren began noticing mixed
late nights, unexplained absences, and flirtatious behavior with other women.
Friends whispered about his wandering eye, and though she never
caught him in the acte down, she knew then. In
April twenty nineteen, Lauren got life changing news she was
(02:36):
pregnant with twins. Overwhelmed with joy, she saw this as
a fresh start, a reason for Mick to finally commit
to their marriage. She carefully planned a romantic dinner at home,
envisioning the perfect evening candles, a home made Italian meal,
and a tiny gift box with a positive pregnancy test inside.
She never got to share the news. On the morning
(02:56):
of April nine, twenty nineteen, Lauren's older sister, Danielle Russo,
grew anxious when her calls and texts went unanswered. The
two were supposed to meet for breakfast at Lester's Dyinger,
a well known spot in Fort Lauderdale where they had
been going since childhood. Lauren was always on time and
she never ignored her phone. After several failed attempts to
(03:17):
reach her, Danielle decided to drive to Lauren's house. The
small two story home sat in a quiet, well kept
neighborhood just a few blocks from Pampina Beach High School.
As she pulled into the driveway, she noticed Laurence car
was parked outside, which only deepened her concern. Danielle knocked
on the front door and waited no answer. She rang
(03:38):
the doorbell, still nothing. Remembering the spare key hidden beneath
a large ceramic flower upon on the porch, she retrieved
it and let herself inside. The house was eerily still.
The usual sounds of Lauren's favorite morning radio show, Elvis
Duran and The Morning Show were absent. The scent of
fresh coffee and vanilla candles that usually filled the home
(03:58):
was gone. Danielle called out, her voice trembling, but the
silence was suffocating. She stepped toward the master bedroom, her
heart pounding as she pushed the door open. A horrifying
sight awaited her. Lauren's lifeless body lay on the floor,
partially wrapped in a crumpled bed sheet. Her skin was pale,
and her lips were slightly parted, as if she had
(04:19):
tried to gasp for air. A deep, dark bruise encircled
her neck, the unmistakable mark of strangulation. The bedroom, usually
neat and organized, looked like a scene of chaos. A
night stem lamp had been knocked over, its bulb shattered
on the hardwood floor. A framed wedding photo of Lauren
and Mick lay face down on the dresser. The glass cracked.
(04:39):
Daniel's eyes moved to Lauren's right hand. Clutched tightly in
her fingers was a white plastic pregnancy test, the result
still visible. The weight of the moment crashed over her.
Her legs gave out, and she dropped to her knees,
a scream ripping from her throat. For a long moment,
she couldn't breathe couldn't think. Then, with shaking hands, she
(05:00):
rabbed her phone and dialed nine one one. When the
dispatcher answered, her voice barely came out, My bleeping sister,
she's bleeping dead. Pompino Beach police arrived at Lauren Degado's
home just minutes after Danielle Russo's frantic nine one one call.
The flashing red and blue lights of patrol cars reflected
off the wet pavement as officers secured the area, keeping
(05:21):
curious neighbors at a distance. Detective Carl Bennett, a seasoned
investigator with fifteen years on the force, took the lead.
Known for his methodical approach, Bennett had worked on some
of Broward County's most high profile cases. He was joined
by forensic specialist Olivia Marx, who had a reputation for
noticing the smallest details others might miss. Inside the house,
(05:44):
officers moved carefully, documenting everything. The crime scene was unsettling.
There were no broken locks, no shattered windows, nothing to
indicate a forced entry. The only sign of struggle was
on Lauren's body, bruises on her wrists and a deep
bligatory mark around her neck. Whoever had done this had
been closed to her, someone she had trusted. The master
(06:05):
bedroom was in disarray. A lamp lay shattered on the floor,
its cord tangled around the base. The bedding was rumpled,
and a bedside drawer stood open, its contents spilling onto
the floor. A jewelry box remained untouched, and Lawrence purse
sat on the dresser, still holding her wallet and keys.
This was not a robbery. Near the body, officers found
(06:27):
a braided leather belt. It had been left discarded near
the foot of the bed, and upon closer inspection, it
appeared to have been used as the murder weapon. The
belt was later identified as belonging to Lauren's husband, Mick Dagago.
Marks carefully examined Lauren's body, noting the signs of strangulation.
The killer had used great force, pressing down hard enough
(06:48):
to leave deep bruises on her throat. Her fingernails were
broken in places, suggesting she had fought back, clawing at
her attacker's hands of the belt around her neck. In
the adjoining bathroom, investigators found a single glass with a
small amount of red wine still in it. A second
glass sat on the kitchen counter untouched. It appeared Lauren
had been expecting someone that night. Detective Bennett pieced together
(07:10):
the evidence. There was no sign of an intruder. The
attack was personal, deliberate. Someone had been close enough to
her to enter the house without a struggle, someone who
knew exactly where she would be. The investigation quickly turned
toward Lauren's husband, Mickdgado. Mick Degado, thirty five, was a
successful real estate agent in South Florida, known for selling
(07:31):
high end homes in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. His polished adheerance,
smooth talking charm, and confident demeanor made him popular among
clients and colleagues, But outside of work, Mick had a
different reputation, one of a willaneizer. Friends admitted he often
flirted with other women, even when Lauren was nearby. Some
had even heard the couple argue about his infidelities in
(07:52):
the past. Lauren's sister, Danielle, told investigators that Lauren had
long suspected Mick of cheating, but had never found the
strength to leave. The news of her pregnancy had been
a final attempt to save their marriage. She hoped it
would change him. Instead, it may have sealed her fate.
When detectives brought Mick in for questioning on April ninth,
twenty nineteen, he arrived at the station looking disheveled, his
(08:14):
usual confidence shaken. He claimed he had been with a
client at a luxury condo showing during the time of
Lauren's murder. He insisted he had nothing to do with
her death, appearing shocked when detectives revealed the crime scene details.
But Mick's alibi quickly fell apart. Investigators pulled his phone
records and discovered that his phone had been paying off
sell towers near his home the entire evening. He hadn't
(08:37):
been in Miami, as he claimed, he had been in
Pompino Beach. Security footage from a neighbor's ring doorbell camera
showed Mick leaving the house just after midnight, shortly after
the estimated time of Lauren's death. He drove away in
his black b M e x five alone. Detectives noted
how calm he looked, as if nothing had happened. Then
there were the scratches. Mick had deep, fresh claw marks
(08:59):
running down his fore arms, the kind that could have
been made by someone fighting for their life. When asked
about them, he gave a rehearsed answer he had fallen
at the gym while lifting weights. Investigators weren't convinced. The
autopsy report revealed Lauren had likely scratched her killer during
the struggle. Desperate to pry the belt from her neck.
The marks on mixed arms lined up perfectly. Detectives pressed
(09:22):
him further, but Mick refused to change his story. He
was confident there was no solid proof tying him to
the murder, but with every piece of evidence stacking up
against him, investigators believed they had their prime suspect. Ava
Carter twenty eight, worked as of our tender at Viike's Inn,
a trendy nightclub in downtown Fort Lauderdale known for its
neam lit decor and exclusive VIP section. Haba had a
(09:45):
reputation for being bold, flirtatious, and always the center of attention.
She had thousands of Instagram followers, often posting pictures of
her nights out, expensive drinks, and designer outfits. Detectives learned
that Ava and Mick had been spotted together multiple times
over the past few months. Some witnesses claimed they were
more than just friends. Others described seeing them arguing outside
(10:08):
the club. Lauren had suspected Mick was cheating, and Ava
was at the top of her list of potential mistresses.
When investigators brought Ava in for questioning, she was defensive
from the start. She insisted she had nothing to do
with Lauren's murder and that people were trying to drag
her name into something just because she had a history
with Mick. She admitted they had been seeing each other casually,
(10:29):
but claimed it was over. Ava provided his strong alibi.
She had been working at b Ike's Inn the entire
night Lauren was killed. Security footage confirmed her presence behind
the bar, mixing drinks and chatting with customers. Multiple patrons
and co workers also backed up her story, but the
footage revealed something else that piqued investigator's interest. Just hours
(10:51):
before Lauren was murdered, Mick had visited the night club.
The security cameras captured him slipping into the VIP section
where Ava was working for nearly twenty minutes. Witnesses said
the conversation seemed heated, with Ava waving her hands and
Mick leaning in close, his expression tense. Had Mick been
planning something? Was he confiding in Ava before taking Lauren's life,
(11:13):
or was Eva more involved than she let on. A
deeper look into her phone records showed that Mick had
called her three times the night of the murder. The
last call came just minutes before he left his house
after Lauren's death, but without direct proof that Eva had
any role in the crime, detectives had to keep looking elsewhere.
Ava walked out of the police station that day a
free woman, but suspicion still followed her. Some believed she
(11:36):
knew more than she was saying. Others wondered if Mick
had used her as an emotional crutch before committing an
unspeakable act. For now, though, she remained a person of interest,
just not the prime suspect. On April twelve, twenty nineteen,
just three days after Lauren Degado's murder, the Broward County
Medical Examiner's Office released its official autopsy report. The cause
(11:58):
of death was confirmed as strangth with severe bruising around
her neck and signs of a violent struggle. But the
report contained something else, something that changed the entire investigation.
Lauren had been pregnant and Nick wasn't the father. Forensic
specialists conducted a routine DNA test on the unborn twins.
The results revealed that the biological father was someone else,
(12:21):
someone completely unexpected. This discovery sent detectives in a new direction.
They needed to find out who Lauren had been involved with,
how long the affair had been going on and whether
this secret relationship had played a role in her murder.
Investigators scored Lauren's phone records, emails, and social media accounts
looking for any clues. A pattern soon emerged, late night texts,
(12:43):
hidden calls, and a name that kept coming up. Doctor
Ryan Caldwell Doctor Caldwell, thirty eight was a respected pediatrician
at Memorial Hospital West Well. Liked by both patients and colleagues.
He had a reputation as a devoted doctor and a
loving father of two, but behind closed, he had been
leading a double life. Ryan and Lauren had met at
(13:04):
a charity galap in twenty eighteen. She had attended as
a guest of a fellow teacher, while he had been
one of the event's sponsors. Witnesses later recalled seeing them
deep in conversation that night, laughing and exchanging numbers. Over time,
their connection grew into something more. While Lauren had struggled
in her crumbling marriage, Ryan had been unhappy in his own.
By early twenty nineteen, their relationship had turned into a
(13:26):
full fledged affair. When Lauren discovered she was pregnant, she
had been overjoyed. She believed this was a fresh start,
a new life away from Mick, but she had never
told Ryan the truth. Investigators found no evidence that he
even knew about the pregnancy. The news of Lauren's affair
fueled mixed rage. He had already suspected she was hiding something,
(13:47):
but the confirmation, likely discovered the night of the murder,
pushed him over the edge. Lauren had planned to break
the news over a romantic dinner, but Mick found out
before she had the chance. Mick hadn't just killed his
wife in a jealous fit of rape. He had killed
her over a betrayal he never saw coming. Now, detectives
needed to prove it in Court Part seven Investigation of
(14:08):
Suspect No. Three. As detectives dug deeper into Lauren de
Gaddo's murder, a new name surfaced, Victor de Gado, Mick's
older brother at thirty nine. Victor had a checkered past.
Once a decorated officer with the Miami Day Police Department,
he had been fired in twenty fifteen after an internal
investigation uncovered misconduct involving excessive force and falsified reports. Since then,
(14:33):
he had bounced between security jobs, Struggling to keep steady work.
Victor had never been fond of Lauren. Family members recalled
tense holiday gatherings where he barely spoke to her, and
former coworkers mentioned that he often referred to her in
dismissive tones. He had always been loyal to Mick, defending
his younger brother's behavior even when others disapproved. With his
(14:54):
troubled history and open dislike for Lauren, Victor quickly became
a person of interest. Investigators questioned him about his whereabouts
on the night of April eighth, twenty nineteen. He claimed
he had been at home watching a Miami Marlins gang
and later met up with friends at a local bar, Flanagan's,
a popular South Florida chain known for its seafood and
(15:15):
casual atmosphere. Detectives obtained security footage from multiple locations. Cameras
outside Victor's apartment complex showed him leaving just before nine
o'clock PM and arriving at Flanagans twenty minutes later. Additional
footage from inside the bar captured him drinking with friends
until well past midnight. Transaction records confirmed he had used
his credit card for multiple purchases that evening, including a
(15:38):
bar tab and a ride chair trip home around two
o'clock am. With this airtight alibi, Victor was ruled out
as a suspect. There was no way he could have
been at Lauren's house during the estimated time of the murder.
That left detectives with only one viable suspect, Mick Degado.
The evidence against Mick was piling up. His alibi had collapsed,
(15:59):
his fingerprints were on the leather belt found near Lauren's body,
and scratches on his forearms suggested a struggle. Now, with
Victor eliminated from the list of possible culprits, investigators focused
all their efforts on building an ironclad case against Mick.
As authorities prepared to make an arrest, they faced one
final challenge, finding a motive that would stand up in court.
(16:20):
Lauren's affair and pregnancy had shattered mixed pride, but prosecutors
needed to prove that these revelations were enough to drive
him to murder. Time was running out, and Mick was
starting to sense that the walls were closing in. On
the morning of April fifteen, twenty nineteen, detectives arrived at
the sleek downtown Fort Lauderdale office of Degado Realty, a
(16:41):
high rise building was bustling with professionals in tailored suits,
unaware that one of their colleagues was about to be
taken into custody. Mick Degado sat at his desk, scrolling
through his phone. When officers entered. At first, he was composed,
greeting them with a casual confidence, but as soon as
Detective Carl Bennett informed him he was under arrest for
(17:01):
the murder of his wife, the colored drained from his face.
Colleague stood frozen as Mick was handcuffed, his expensive rolecks
glinting under the fluorescent lights. Employees whispered as he was
let out of the office, escorted past the glass walled
conference rooms where he had once closed million dollar deals
at the station, Mick remained silent until investigators presented him
(17:22):
with the autopsy report. When they revealed that Lauren had
been pregnant with twins that weren't his, his confident demeanor shattered.
His hands trembled as he leaned back in his chair, muttering,
that's not possible, but the DNA results didn't lie. In
that moment, Mick realized the cruel irony he had murdered
Lauren to avoid fatherhood, believing he was about to be
(17:43):
trapped in a life he never wanted, but the twins
had never been his in the first place. Lauren's family
had been dreading this moment, but when the call came
confirming Mix's arrest, the pain hit them like a fresh wound.
Her mother collapsed onto the couch, weeping. Her father gripped
the kitchen, countering his head in disbelief. Danielle Russo, Laurence's sister,
(18:03):
couldn't hold back her sobs. She clutched Lauren's favorite sweater,
the one she always wore on Chili Florida Knights, and
whispered through her tears she deserved so much better. News
of mix arrests spread quickly. Local media outlets covered the story,
with headlines like man charged in wife's murder appearing across
South Florida news stations. True crime fans dissected every detail,
(18:26):
speculating about mixed motive and the identity of the twins
real father. As Mick sat in his holding cell, the
reality of his situation sank in the life he had built,
the luxury cars, the beachfront condo, the knights at high
end Fort Lauderdale Clubs was gone. He wasn't just facing
the loss of his freedom, he was facing the consequences
(18:46):
of his own blind rage. The case against Micdigado was airtight.
Now it was only a matter of time before justice
was served. By the time Mickdegado's trialed again in early
December twenty nineteen, the case had become one of the
most talk about crimes in South Florida. News stations like
w PLG and CBS Miami covered every detail, and courtroom
(19:07):
sketches of Mick and his tailored suit made their rounds
on social media. True crime podcasts dis sected the case,
drawing comparisons to other high profile domestic homicides. Inside the
Broward County Courthouse, the prosecution, led by State Attorney Robert Klain,
laid out a damning case. They described Mick as a cold,
narcissistic man who saw his pregnant wife as nothing more
(19:30):
than an obstacle to his freedom. They showed jurors security
footage of mixed sneaking out of his home the night
of the murder, as well as photos of the leather
belt found near Lauren's body, the same belt he had
worn in real estate promotional photos. Witnesses took the stand.
One by one, Lauren's sister, Danielle Russo, broke down as
she described finding her sister's lifeless body. Forensic experts explained
(19:53):
how Lauren had fought back her fingernail scrapings containing traces
of mixed skin. A financial analyst testified the Mick was
drowning in debt, contradicting his image as a successful real
estate model. The defense, led by public defender Melissa Hart,
tried to counter these arguments. They claimed Mick had acted
in the heat of the moment, overcome with emotional distress
(20:14):
after learning of Lauren's pregnancy. They painted him as a
desperate man who snapped under pressure, but their case had
little to stand on. The DNA evidence proved the twins
weren't his, exposing the twisted irony of the crime. It
took the jury just four hours to reach a verdict.
On December tenth, twenty nineteen, Mick Degado was found guilty
(20:35):
of first degree murder. The courtroom was silent as the
judge handed down his sentence life in prison without the
possibility of parole. Mick barely reacted. He stared straight ahead,
his jaw clenched as if he still couldn't believe what
had happened. Lauren's family held each other, trying to process
the moment. There was relief justice had been served, but
(20:56):
it didn't erase the pain. The holidays were approaching, and
in instead of celebrating, they were mourning a daughter, a sister,
a mother who never got to meet her unborn children.
The case of State of Florida Mickdgado became a tragic
reminder of how jealousy, betrayal, and violence could destroy lies.
Mick would spend the rest of his days behind bars,
(21:16):
while Lauren's memory lived on in the hearts of those
who loved her. Mick Degado now spends his days inside
the concrete walls of Florida State Prison, a far cry
from the luxury waterfront homes he once sold. The man
who had once attended exclusive real estate galas and driven
a sleek black portioning now wears a prison uniform. His
future reduced to a lifetime behind bars. His fall from
(21:40):
grace was complete. Eva Carter, the nightclub bartender whose name
had been dragged into the investigation, wasted no time leaving Florida.
She deleted her social media accounts, cut ties with old friends,
and moved out of state, hoping to start over far
from the scandal. The media circus surrounding the case had
been relentless, and she wanted no part of it. Victor
(22:01):
de Gado, Mick's older brother, remained in Florida, but disdanced
himself from his sibling. The two had never been particularly close,
but after the trial, Victor made it clear he wanted
nothing to do with Mick ever again. Once a police
officer with a promising career, Victor's past mistakes had cost
him his badge. Now his brother's crime had forever tainted
their family name. For Lauren's family, the pain of losing
(22:24):
her never faded, but trial had delivered justice, but no
sentence could bring her back. That December, instead of celebrating
the holidays with Lauren's laughter filling the room, they faced
an empty chair at the dinner table. Determined to honor
her memory, Lauren's family created the Lauren Rousso Memorial Scholarship,
offering financial aid to young women pursuing careers in education.
(22:46):
Lauren had always believed in the power of learning, and
her loved ones wanted to ensure her passion lived on.
In the months following her murder, Domations poured in from
across the country, many from people who had never met
Lauren but had been moved by her tragic story. The
scholarship was just one way Lauren's name would be remembered.
Friends shared stories about her kindness, her ability to make
(23:07):
others feel special, and the way she lit up any
room she entered. Her students, some too young to fully
understand what had happened, asked when she was coming back.
And then there were the unborn twins, the children who
never got a chance to take their first breaths. Their
tiny lives were stolen before they even began. Lauren Russo's
story had ended too soon, but her love, her dreams,
(23:28):
and her legacy would never be forgotten. Infidelity, deception, a
brutal murder driven by fear and selfishness. Lurne de Gaddo's
story is a tragic reminder that even in the most
picturesque places, darkness can lurk beneath the surface. This has
been True Crime Case Files. Until next time. Stay safe,
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