FL FL - Catherine Stirm, 67, brother found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a hotel in Brooksville, car found in Bradenton, 22 Jan 2024

[imstilla.grandma]

ET

Catherine Stirm, 67, is being investigated by the Bradenton Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Task Force, police said in a news release.

Coworkers requested a welfare check on Stirm, who lives in Manatee County, on Monday. She last spoke to them on Jan. 22 but hadn’t reported to work since, police said.

Her car was found Sunday at the Sawgrass Cove apartment complex, where her brother, 64-year-old Scott Stirm, lived, on 47th Avenue W. in Bradenton.

Missing Woman Has Detectives ‘Gravely Concerned’: Bradenton Police

The missing woman's brother was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a hotel in Brooksville, Bradenton police said.

patch.com

 

[iamshadow21]

The Sawgrass Cove apartment complex looks like an upscale place. I don't know much about American gun control laws, but I wonder whether a resident of such a place could own a gun or not; understanding whose gun it was would clear up some confusion, but I can't find much about it in the articles online.

Also not an American, but my understanding of guns and Florida is that the laws and attitudes are... pretty free and easy, to put it mildly. I don't think anyone would be prevented from owning a gun if they lived in an apartment block.

MOO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Officials said Scott's apartment was searched by detectives on Thursday, and the evidence collected there had police "gravely concerned" for Catherine.

Woman’s disappearance considered ‘suspicious’ after brother takes his own life at motel: Bradenton police

A missing woman's disappearance has been deemed suspicious by investigators after they said her brother took his own life at a Brooksville motel.

www.aol.com

 

[swanniee11]

Or something happened to her at his appartment, he hid/disposed of her prior to going to the hotel. IMO

 

[swanniee11]

Last contact with Catherine was 1/22
Welfare check was requested on 1/29 at her home
Located her car at brothers on 1/30
2/1 ( Thursday) search warrant at brothers
2/1 (Thursday evening) found brother at hotel deceased.
I wonder how long he rented a room at the hotel? I assume he paid with a card which is how LE were able to find him. IMO

 

[PayrollNerd]

Manatee County deputies investigating suspicious disappearance of 67-year-old woman

Bradenton Police detectives and the Manatee County Homicide Task Force are investigating the suspicious disappearance of 67-year-old Catherine Stirm.

www.mysuncoast.com

......
coworkers requested a welfare check on Catherine, who lives in Manatee County, on Jan. 29.

She reportedly spoke to coworkers on Jan. 22 but failed to report to work in subsequent days.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Bradenton police investigate woman’s ‘suspicious disappearance’ after brother found dead

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — The Bradenton Police Department is investigating a 67-year-old woman’s “suspicious disappearance” after her brother was found dead of a self-inflict…

www.wfla.com

Law enforcement was unable to make contact with Scott Stirm, but a search of his apartment on Thursday made them “gravely concerned for Catherine’s welfare.”

 

[iamshadow21]

Bradenton police investigate woman’s ‘suspicious disappearance’ after brother found dead

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — The Bradenton Police Department is investigating a 67-year-old woman’s “suspicious disappearance” after her brother was found dead of a self-inflict…

www.wfla.com

Law enforcement was unable to make contact with Scott Stirm, but a search of his apartment on Thursday made them “gravely concerned for Catherine’s welfare.”

I'm guessing they found something that suggested she may no longer be alive.

MOO

 

[PayrollNerd]

LE would know if more than 1 bullet had been recently fired from SS's gun. If CS left the apartment complex with SS, there are likely traffic or business cameras in the vicinity. That would help them determine the direction they went and if both of them were in the vehicle.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I'm guessing they found something that suggested she may no longer be alive.

MOO

My suspicion too. I hope they've looked in the trunk of both vehicles. Something so simple has been overlooked before. Hopefully they've checked the apartment complex dumpsters too.

 

[PayrollNerd]

https://www.facebook.com/BradentonPD/posts/pfbid02YnLFDouCEkpNisYcTRJZ4EF6SU8yyxtME5Wc6xrGeAtBCev9GrtW5wJtmPBsaMc3l

(UPDATED 2/7/24) - Our investigation into the disappearance of Catherine Stirm continues. Detectives continue to examine evidence obtained during several search warrants. If you have information please contact Det. Beckley at 941-932-9300.

Bradenton Police Detectives and the Manatee County Homicide Task Force are investigating the suspicious disappearance of 67-year-old Catherine Stirm.

Coworkers requested a welfare check on Ms. Stirm, who lives in Manatee County, on January 29. Catherine spoke to coworkers on January 22 but failed to report to work in subsequent days.
Detectives located Catherine's car at the Sawgrass Cove Apartment complex, 47th Avenue W., Bradenton, on January 30. Her brother, Scott Stirm, 64, lives at the complex. Repeated attempts to speak with Scott were unsuccessful. Detectives conducted a search warrant at Scott's home on Thursday, February 1. The evidence collected makes us gravely concerned for Catherine’s welfare.
Detectives located Scott Stirm's vehicle at the Days Inn, 6320 Windmere Rd., Brooksville, on Thursday night. Scott was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his hotel room. Catherine was not with her brother.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Catherine Stirm contact Detective Jeff Beckley at [email protected] or call BPD at 941-932-9300.
Submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at manateecrimestoppers.com

or 866-634-8477. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.

 

[Unsolved]

Well this sounds really bad. This article says the brother took his life while police were outside his room (BBM):

"Censullo told SNN that he took his own life knowing there authorities were there. Law enforcement heard the gunshot, and when they talked into the room, they found Catherine’s brother dead from a self-inflicted wound".

Missing woman’s brother shot himself while authorities were outside: BPD

Bradenton police told SNN that 67-year-old Manatee County resident Catherine Stirm was described as a reliable and diligent home health care worker who mostly kept to herself.

www.snntv.com

For some reason it seems kind of ironic to me that the brother was found dead in a hotel room and this linkedin looks like he was a night auditor at a Holiday Inn Express:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stirm-bb585085

 

[PayrollNerd]

Bradenton Police Department's Facebook post has 211 shares already. I hope someone has seen her or she's on a camera somewhere.

 

[Caring1]

Catherine’s NamUs was modified today. It doesn’t appear that any new information was added.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[PommyMommy]

JAN 31, 2025

Police believe brother killed, dismembered sister

A woman reported missing a year ago today has been declared dead--and her brother is the prime suspect.

www.mysuncoast.com

Investigators with Bradenton Police believe Catherine’s brother Scott Stirm killed and dismembered the Bradenton woman before he killed himself on Feb. 1, 2024 in Brooksville, about an hour north of Tampa.

Now, a year after the initial missing person’s declaration, a Manatee County judge has declared Catherine dead.

 

[PommyMommy]

There's a timeline in this article with more details

JAN 31, 2025

Missing Bradenton woman declared dead a year after her disappearance

One year after a 67-year-old woman vanished, a Manatee County probate judge has declared her dead, the Bradenton Police Department announced Friday.

www.fox13news.com

• Feb. 1, 2024: During a search of Scott Stirm's apartment, investigators found a hand saw, power saw and cleaning supplies. A separate search at the Manatee County landfill uncovered a knife, a hatchet and bloody clothing in a bag that also contained Scott's mail.

 

[PayrollNerd]

https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/manatee-county/bradenton-police-believe-missing-womans-brother-killed-dismembered-her/

Snip
During the investigation, Catherine was seen on a door camera entering Scott’s apartment on Jan. 22 and was never seen leaving the home, according to police. After Jan. 22, the camera recorded Scott struggling to remove heavy-duty bags from his apartment, and on Jan. 30 he was seen moving personal belongings.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I’m sure after the first inspection of his apartment, they checked the complex’s dumpster and probably the landfill. I bet he went to a dumpster miles away and disposed of her remains. Some dumpsters have side doors. If he was struggling with the weight of the bags, he could have left them in a rural area. I hope they can find her remains so her family can have peace.

I can’t imagine why he would be so evil as to murder his own sister. I don’t think it was money because he could have taken it and ran to wherever.

 

[truthfinder2019]

Catherine's employer then made multiple attempts to contact her over the course of several days but reached her brother, Scott Stirm, 64, instead.

According to police, Scott provided changing reasons for Catherine's absence. At first, he said that Catherine was hospitalized with COVID. Later, he told her employer that she had traveled to Michigan.

On Jan. 29, a woman claiming to be Catherine called one of her co-workers, but the co-worker immediately recognized it wasn't her and hung up.

Police say brother ‘had knowledge’ of missing sister's death in Bradenton

Police said the brother of a woman who went missing a year ago "had knowledge of her death and that she was likely dismembered and disposed of in an unknown location."

www.abcactionnews.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Although Catherine Stirm is presumed to be dead, her case will remain open, authorities said

Missing Bradenton woman was killed, dismembered by her brother, officers say

Catherine Stirm was last seen entering her brother’s apartment on Jan. 22, 2024.

www.heraldtribune.com