A Broward County man who was previously arrested in connection with the assault of a woman whose body was found on Hollywood beach in December has now been charged with murder.
The body of Heather Asendorf was found on Hollywood beach by a passer-by on Dec. 26, and within days, Hollywood Police had arrested Brandon McCray, but he had not been charged with Asendorf’s murder.
On Thursday, McCray, 28, of Coconut Creek, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and two counts of sexual battery. Prosecutors this week gave notice of their intent to seek the death penalty in the case, court records show.
While the identity of the victim is redacted in the grand jury indictment charging McCray with murder and in other court records, Hollywood Police previously publicly identified Asendorf, 56, as the woman whose body was found near Cleveland Street.
Man charged in sexual assault of woman found dead on Hollywood beach
Details of the investigation leading to McCray’s arrest have not been released. The arrest warrant has been sealed by a court order and is not available publicly.
The day after Asendorf’s body was discovered, police announced that they had identified a person of interest and that people involved knew one another. McCray was arrested Dec. 30 with help from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, initially on charges of sexual battery, kidnapping, battery and battery by strangulation.
According to the indictment, McCray is accused of strangling the victim to death.
Spokespersons for Hollywood Police did not respond to an email seeking information about the investigation Tuesday afternoon.
Asendorf, who friends called “Barbie,” was staying at a hotel about a block away from where her body was found, long-time friend Steve Sarsfield, of Hallandale Beach, previously told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. She was in town from Pennsylvania, where she was originally from, and planned to visit for a few weeks with old friends from her past years living in Hollywood. She could often be found at the Hollywood Beach Bandshell dancing when she was in town.
McCray is held without bond in the Broward Main Jail.
