Mary Jean “MJ” Avilaña was the only girl among seven siblings in Las Piñas, Philippines, and deeply cherished by her family.

Her brothers collectively supported her education, enabling her to graduate with a degree in Financial Management in 2016.

In return, MJ took on the responsibility of raising her two young nieces and nephews, Nathalie and Oliver, becoming their guardian.

Nathalie was described as affectionate and a social butterfly, active in basketball and excelling in school. Oliver was cheerful, energetic, and full of dreams.

Their lives were stable and close-knit, relying on the strong support network of their large family residing nearby in Barangay Pulang Lupa 2.

In 2018, MJ met Vicente “Vince” Soria at her aunt’s motor shop. Vince, a mechanic nine years her senior, was known for his “bad boy” and adventurous persona, actively participating in drug racing—a fact that concerned MJ’s brothers.

Despite their objections, MJ fell for Vince.

Vince revealed he was married with a family in Bicol, but he claimed the relationship was over.

MJ entered the relationship believing Vince was emotionally available, though the overlap of his relationships was later revealed. In 2019, MJ became pregnant.

Vince committed to the child, and the couple moved to an apartment in St. Joseph Subdivision, taking Nathalie and Oliver with them.

Vince’s income as a mechanic, combined with MJ’s salary as an HR manager at a convenience store, provided a seemingly comfortable life. Nathalie helped care for the newborn son. However, the initial stability was short-lived.

Vince became addicted to online gambling, consuming any extra money they earned. Despite MJ’s pleas, Vince’s vice intensified. This led to frequent, loud arguments between the couple, often heard by neighbors. While they tried to hide their conflicts from the children, Vince occasionally lashed out at Nathalie verbally.

The situation worsened when Vince began demanding MJ work more hours, leading to her coming home late. He then grew paranoid, accusing MJ of infidelity, despite his own recent history.

The couple was in financial distress due to Vince’s gambling, and MJ was forced to work overtime to cover expenses.

The tragedy unfolded on May 16, 2024. Security camera footage showed 16-year-old Nathalie entering the house around 1:00 a.m. About 35 minutes later, Vince arrived. MJ returned from her late shift around 3:06 a.m.

The fatal argument began around 5:56 a.m., audible to neighbors, followed by screams and the barking of the dogs. According to Vince’s confession, he struck MJ with a 2×2 wooden plank during the argument.

He claimed Nathalie and Oliver rushed to intervene, forcing him to silence them as well. He then used packaging tape to cover the victims’ mouths and bound their hands and feet.

Vince’s sister, Princess, arrived at the house around 7:28 a.m. for an unrelated family matter. She and Vince’s 4-year-old son were let inside.

Vince had cleaned the visible areas and concealed the three lifeless bodies in one room. Princess and her nephew left, unaware of the crime.

Around 7:53 a.m., Vince left the house. He later contacted Princess, asking to meet to give her his son. Princess, now suspicious, alerted authorities, who tracked Vince and arrested him after he transferred the child to his sister.

The horrific scene was discovered when a relative, concerned that MJ had not been active on social media for two days, asked police to perform a welfare check.

A sickening odor emanating from the house quickly confirmed their fears. The three victims were found in an advanced state of decomposition, their mouths taped, their hands and feet bound.

The autopsy confirmed all three victims succumbed to blunt force trauma. Vince confessed, claiming he acted in a fit of rage and that the children’s intervention forced him to harm them. He was charged with three counts of murder.

In a horrifying display of callousness, Vince later attempted to destroy MJ’s character in an interview, calling her “nagging” and claiming she was possessive, even though she was the sole financial support due to his severe gambling addiction.

MJ’s family rallied to protect her reputation, confirming Vince was the source of the financial and marital strife. Vince’s initial claim that he was a victim of circumstance was quickly undermined by the evidence of his gambling and physical abuse.

The case proceeded with Vince being incarcerated, facing a life sentence for the three counts of murder. The tragedy left the Avilaña family devastated, a painful testament to how addiction, greed, and a breakdown of trust can lead to an unthinkable, total family collapse.