FL - Michelle Hunt, 45, died, boyfriend said she‘d fallen off a boat, Manatee County, 16 Dec 2018

[cybervampira]

Florida woman's boyfriend last saw her alive. Now, he won't return investigators' phone calls

Michelle Hunt died unexpectedly on Dec. 16, 2018, mere hours after her on-again-off-again boyfriend told police she’d fallen off a boat. Detectives say he stopped returning their calls.

The boyfriend, who remains nameless because he’s not a person of interest or a suspect, doesn’t really want to talk to us," said Randy Warren, public information officer with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

"But he is the one who knows what happened.”

According to investigators, the two set off from the Phillipe Harbor Club Marina in Sarasota and eventually made their way to the Casey Kay Fish House in Osprey.

But while at the Casey Kay Fish House, Michelle’s boyfriend told investigators she “fell” at the dock, so they turned around and returned to the marina. Michelle got sick and started vomiting on the boat, her boyfriend told investigators.

Investigators believe Casey Key and the marine are likely the last places any person other than her boyfriend would’ve seen Michelle alive. They’re asking witnesses to come forward.

Upon returning to the marina, Hunt’s boyfriend told investigators they went to her Lakewood Ranch home, not to a doctor. From there, the details grow murky.

At some point, Michelle went unconscious and her boyfriend called 911.

She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead that night.

Realtor was with boyfriend on the day she died. He won’t talk to cops about what happened

Did you see this woman fall off a boat near Casey Key? Detectives are investigating her death

Deputies investigate after a local realtor goes boating with ex-boyfriend and later dies

 

[flute4peace]

Very curious case. Thanks for the thread, CV!

 

[scriabina]

"Family and friends say they suspected Hunt was abused by her boyfriend over the years, and that although she never admitted it, she would share his harassing messages, behavior and threats during the times they weren’t together. There were also times she had suspicious injuries, they say, including a broken arm. She had also inquired about how to go about getting a restraining order, but didn’t say why...

"Less than two weeks before Hunt died, her on-again and off-again boyfriend found himself in court before a judge as his most recent ex-girlfriend was seeking a protective injunction against him. She is one of at least three women in the last 14 years to have sought a restraining order against him."

But the boyfriend is not currently a POI. Interesting. What was the cause of death? Certainly that should provide some insight. Surely the cause of death has been determined by now, more than 7 weeks later? Is there a reason that information is being withheld?

Realtor was with boyfriend on the day she died. He won’t talk to cops about what happened

 

[Kakidoll]

I don't get why he isn't a POI if he won't talk to them. This is crazy. And i LIVE here. I'm going to guess that if she died from 'blunt force trauma' and she fell, there may be no proof it wasn't from the fall.. Still, not answering questions. Suspicious.

 

[coffeeandacig]

If a woman had fallen off a boat, other boaters would've pulled up alongside to see if she was ok. Since nothing ever happens on Casey Key, everyone at Casey Key Fish House would've been gossiping. Puh leez...

 

[Tssiemer]

Wait. Did she fall off the boat or the dock?

 

[coffeeandacig]

Wait. Did she fall off the boat or the dock?

She fell off the boat while docked at Casey Key Fish House. If you've ever been there, you can see everything from the restaurant and the tiki bar.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Just arrest him on suspicion of murder, that'll get him talking.

 

[madamx]

Ahhhhh, yes the old "she fell off the boat story"

 

[Gardenista]

Was there an autopsy? I googled and can't find.

 

[coffeeandacig]

Was there an autopsy? I googled and can't find.

They said she died of blunt force trauma... Guessing that was the result of an autopsy.

 

[scriabina]

They said she died of blunt force trauma... Guessing that was the result of an autopsy.

I haven't been able to find a cause of death beyond vague thirdhand speculation that she hit her head after a fall. Can you link us to where you found that info? An article last updated Feb 4 states:

"The medical examiner has not yet been able to determine the cause and manner of her death. Among the biggest questions surrounding the case, are Hunt’s injuries and what caused them.

“'The person who has the most knowledge is not willing to talk to law enforcement,' lead detective Garrick Plonczynski said."

Realtor was with boyfriend on the day she died. He won’t talk to cops about what happened

 

[scriabina]

Some new info from this video/article from Feb 6th:

Bradenton woman’s family searches for answers after mysterious death

Main new points:

-Boyfriend has stopped talking altogether and has gotten a lawyer.

-Victim's niece said MH had no prior health issues and was in good health.

-No cause of death known at this time.

 

[coffeeandacig]

I've asked the Mods to delete my post about "blunt force trauma", since I can't find the video yet, of the local news where I believe I heard it.

 

[scriabina]

Surveillance video released showing boyfriend and MH walking from the dock to their car. I'm not sure what info can be gleaned from this other than proving MH was alive at that point. I cannot tell that she looks ill, drunk, or is staggering or vomiting, for example. There apparently is no footage of the fall.

Surveillance video could provide new clues in mysterious realtor death

BF's attorney on why bf will no longer talk to police: “Keep in mind the probable cause to arrest someone is such a low standard... So, the fear is, if he gives a statement then one misstatement or point taken out of context may end up arresting him and they’re going to use that against him.”

BF's attorney on why bf didn't call 911 sooner: "“The reason why he didn’t call the paramedics is because she refused. Michelle didn’t want him to call paramedics."

Cause of death still unknown.

 

[Frannie]

A little more information on boyfriend but not his name.

Realtor was with boyfriend on the day she died. He won’t talk to cops about what happened

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

It sounds to me like she died from complications from the fall.

Investigators say she was able to walk away, and surveillance video shows two people walking away from the dock. The boyfriend is then seen guiding Hunt to the car.

Hunt's boyfriend said her condition worsened when they got home and she complained of being nauseated. Hunt died at the hospital a short time later.

Camareno said the boyfriend has already given his initial statements, so he is now focusing on his legal rights.

Surveillance video could provide new clues in mysterious realtor death | wtsp.com

 

[flute4peace]

When I was in college I got got bucked off a horse and landed on my head/arm. Got a little queasy in the car on the way home. My boyfriend at the time immediately took a detour via the ER to have me checked out. Isn’t that what boyfriends do? And that was 30 years ago, before all the concussion research and protocols.

 

[scriabina]

When I was in college I got got bucked off a horse and landed on my head/arm. Got a little queasy in the car on the way home. My boyfriend at the time immediately took a detour via the ER to have me checked out. Isn’t that what boyfriends do? And that was 30 years ago, before all the concussion research and protocols.

I find it very unusual that the victim refused to go to the hospital after hitting her head so hard that she began vomiting. Did she not have medical insurance? Unlikely, considering she probably had insurance through her real estate job. A very high deductible? High copays? Financial troubles that made her feel she couldn't afford to go? Possible. Or was she so out of it that she didn't know what she was saying? Also possible. Or is the boyfriend remembering that part wrong?

An urgent care clinic (Medi-clinic Sarasota Inc) was only a 3-minute drive away (1.8 miles). Would have been so easy to stop there, and could have saved her life.

I think/HOPE the autopsy will shed some light on unanswered questions.

 

[JerseyGirl]

This story reminds me of Isabella Hellmann:

FL - FL - Isabella Hellmann, 41, catamaran off Cay Sal, SE of the FL Keys, 14 May 2017 #1