Update:
The husband of Maryellen’s sister is helping with donations to cover the funeral cost. If you’d like to help out, please contact Omar at 678-231-5317. As of now, the details of either funeral are not determined. We’ll bring you any updates as we find out.
The below is from today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Full the full link to the AJC, click here.
Please post your comments for the family in the comment section below.
Marietta police said Thursday that two mixed martial arts fighters whose bodies were found in their Springdale Drive home Wednesday night died in a murder-suicide.
Both are MMA fighters who have appeared on fight cards at Wild Bill’s in Duluth. South fought under the name Sonny “The Pitbull” South.
About 6 p.m. Wednesday, Cano’s father came to police headquarters to report that his daughter had been missing for the past two days, Marietta police spokesman David Baldwin said.
“The investigation led to Maryellen Cano’s residence,” Baldwin said. “Officers were unable to make contact with anyone at the residence, but Maryellen Cano’s vehicle was still parked in the driveway.”
Officers contacted the property’s owner, went in and found Cano and her boyfriend dead.
Baldwin said the two had an on-going domestic dispute, and South apparently shot Cano, then turned the gun on himself.
A Cobb County Animal Control officer who showed up at the house Thursday morning to pick up a small dog that was in the yard told the AJC that two pit bulls had to be removed from inside the house before the investigation began Wednesday night.
David Oblas, co-publisher of Georgia Fighters magazine, promoted fights at Wild Bill’s that featured Cano and South. He said he was “pretty shocked” at the news of their deaths. “It hit me out of nowhere,” he said.
“I just saw Maryellen Saturday night and she was smiling and in a good mood,” Oblas said.
“Maryellen was one of those girls that’s just always smiling and in a good mood,” he said. “For being a girl that punched other girls in the face for a living, she was just very well respected by everyone.”
South, Oblas said, was “one of the most ferocious guys in the ring.”
“I’d describe Sonny as someone that could be real fun and mellow outside the ring, but once you got him in the ring, his demeanor totally changed, and that is a good thing for someone that fights for a living,” Oblas said.
He said that South, who had been fighting since 2008, and Cano, who first fought in 2009, had been dating for about two years.
“I’d describe their relationship as off-and-on,” Oblas told the AJC. “They’ve had problems just like any other couple has had their problems, but they were trying to work it out.”
The home where the bodies were found is in a neighborhood just off North Marietta Parkway, between Cobb Parkway and I-75.
Neighbor Ina Sexton said she has never noticed any trouble at the house where the couple lived.
“It’s always been a real quiet street,” Sexton told the AJC. “We’ve been here eight years and we’ve never had any problems. It’s just a real friendly street.”
RIP Maryellen
Oh my god, SO very sad, she was a wonderful person. She will be greatly missed.
Mary Ellen worked at Brookside CAFE and cooked me breakfast many, many mornings…this is such a shock…I can’t beleive this….
I hope this is solved…. RIP Mary Ellen….
Mary Ellen was a wonderful person. She also cooked my breakfast many of morning when I worked in that building and invited me to se e her fights.
My condelences to the family(especially her sister and dad)
I was fortunate to meet MaryEllen and her family at the Cafe as well. We talked often of her passion for fighting/MMA. She was a sweet soul. Such a tragedy for her to be taken from us like she was. My heart goes out to her family.
I love you, Maryellen. May you forever Rest in Peace. I am honored to have known you. I will see you again. <3
I just saw Maryellen on Saturday night at Wild Bill’s I embraced her and remember how her precious smile warmed my soul. Rest in peace sunshine.
words escape me
my prayers are with the families.
My heart goes out to the Cano family. Mary Ellen touched the lives of many people and she will be missed greatly.
My prayers go out to the Cano family. I too knew Mary Ellen from Brookside Cafe. She used to cook my breakfast as well. You will be greatly missed and my heart is with Sophia, Dad, and the entire Cano family. Stay prayful.
God bless Sonia Cano the rest of ME’s Family.
Mary Ellen, my heart is broken. I truly don’t understand the craziness of it all, but what I do know is that you are gone and taken away so suddenly. May god bless your soul and comfort your family during this time. Herman I am here for.
Mary Ellen was always smiling and laughing.She was dedicated fighter and that is how I will always remember her. My condolences and prayers go out to her family May God Bless you and Keep You
Mary Ellen
My heart goes out to her family Mary Ellen was a beautiful person with an amazing personality. She was friendly to everyone not because of the nature of her business but friendly just because she wanted to be. She was so humble about her success in MMA and it is a shame to hear this. She is with god now and she will find peace.