ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A twin unborn baby who initially survived his mother's shooting death has died, WFTV found out Friday. The grandfather confirmed to WFTV that Jael Huntley was taken off life support Thursday night.
Investigators said Michael Boyce, 33, was arrested after he allegedly shot his wife, Alexis Boyce, point-blank in the head.
Boyce made his first court appearance Saturday. Authorities said he now faces a third charge of first-degree murder in the death of his 23-year-old wife and babies.
Alexis Boyce was eight months pregnant with twins when she was shot at her family's apartment on Nikki Court in Orange County. Deputies said the victim's parents were in their bedroom when the shooting occurred.
Authorities said Alexis Boyce was pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center, along with one of her unborn sons.
Jael was being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit at Winnie Palmer Hospital before his death.
Early on he showed signs of improvement, but doctors said Jael's brain had already been severely damaged.
"That damage very likely was going to be irreversible," Dr. Gregory Alexander said.
After seven days fighting to stay alive, the family of baby Jael made the heart-wrenching decision Thursday to take him off life support.
Leon Huntley, Jael's grandfather, said he was deteriorating.
"We couldn't be selfish. It was time to let him go," Huntley said.
Facing three funerals, the grief was simply unbearable for Jael's grandmother.
"There's three empty spaces in my family," Fannie Huntley said.
Funeral arrangements for Alexis Boyce, baby Jael Huntley, and twin brother
Date: Saturday, Nov. 30
Location: First Baptist Oviedo - 45 W. Broadway
Time: 11 a.m.