A Florida man is suspected of abducting, strangling and sexually harassing a 56-year-old Pennsylvania woman who was later found dead under a tarp on a South Florida beach the morning after Christmas.
Brandon Ward McCray, 28, was captured by Hollywood Police and the US Marshals Service for the alleged disturbing crimes against Heather Asendorf, who was staying in the beach town visiting friends for the holidays.
Asendorf’s body was discovered by a passerby on a beach in Hollywood, Florida, near Cleveland Street just after 7 a.m. on Dec. 26, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Her cause of death was not revealed, but foul play was suspected.
Asendorf had been residing at a hotel a block from where her body was found, her friend Steve Sarsfield told the outlet.
She was known as “Barbie” by her friends because of her colorful personality and bright outfits, including blonde wigs.
“Rainbow Brite and Barbie mixed together,” Sarsfield said.
The Hallandale Beach resident last saw his friend on Dec. 24 at the Hollywood Beach Bandshell, an outdoor theater and plaza, where Asendorf was known to hang out and dance during her Florida trips.
“She was a really sweet girl. Everybody really liked her. She did her own dance,” Sarsfield said about his friend of 25 years.
Officials revealed that Asendorf and McCray had known each other, but did not offer further information about their relationship.
McCray was arrested on Dec. 30 and charged with two counts of sexual assault with a weapon sexual battery of a victim over 12 years of age, kidnapping, battery by strangulation and battery, according to records viewed by The Post.
He has not been charged with Asendorf’s murder.
The 310-pound suspect has three distinct tattoos, including “Sophia,” “Stay Humble Hustle Hard,” and “Love Yours,” according to arrest records viewed by The Post.
Police did not reveal how they connected McCray to Asendorf’s death and sealed his arrest warrant.
“This case remains an active criminal investigation,” Hollywood police said. “There is no indication of a broader threat to the community.”
McCray was arrested less than two weeks before Asendorf’s death, on an outstanding warrant for disorderly intoxication and resisting in 2023. He bonded out of jail on Dec. 19.
He is being held in North Broward County Jail on a $770,000 bond with GPS monitoring, records stated.
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