Florida Man Charged in Disturbing Case Involving Pennsylvania Woman
A man from Florida faces serious allegations after a 56-year-old woman from Pennsylvania was found dead on a beach in South Florida the day after Christmas. The unfortunate victim, Heather Asendorff, was discovered under a tarp and had been in the area visiting friends.
Brandon Ward McCray, 28, was taken into custody by local police and the U.S. Marshals Service in connection with Asendorff’s case. Reports indicate that her body was found by a passerby on Hollywood Beach, near Cleveland Street, shortly after 7 a.m. on December 26.
While the official cause of death hasn’t been disclosed, there are suspicions of foul play. Asendorff had been staying at a hotel just a block away from where her body was found, according to a long-time friend, Steve Sarsfield.
Friends often referred to her as “Barbie” due to her vibrant personality and distinctive attire, often complete with a blonde wig. “She was a mix between Rainbow Brite and Barbie,” Sarsfield remarked.
Asendorff, a resident of Hallandale Beach, was last seen on December 24, enjoying time with friends at the Hollywood Beach Bandshell, a common spot for her to dance and socialize during her visits to Florida.
“She was really sweet—everyone loved her. She just danced so freely,” Sarsfield added, remembering their 25-year friendship.
McCray faces multiple charges, including two counts of sexual assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, strangulation, and assault on a victim over 12 years old. However, he has not yet been charged with Asendorff’s murder.
He is described as weighing 310 pounds and has tattoos that read “Sophia,” “Stay Humble Hustle Hard,” and “Love Your.” Despite being connected to the case, the police have not disclosed how they linked McCray to Asendorff’s death.
The Hollywood Police Department stated that this is still an active criminal investigation, assuring the public that there appears to be no broader threat to the community.
After being arrested on December 30, McCray was already in custody for outstanding charges related to disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest from the previous year, but he was released from prison just days before Asendorff’s body was found.
He is currently held in the North Broward County Jail on a $770,000 bail, under GPS monitoring.
