Thania Fuenmayor Obituary, Death – Authorities in Bradenton have identified the woman who died after being found critically injured outside her vehicle in a neighborhood Sunday evening. The Bradenton Police Department announced that the victim was 44-year-old Thania Fuenmayor of Oneco. Officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of Eighth Avenue East around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday following reports of a traffic crash. When they arrived, they discovered Fuenmayor lying on the ground near her car.

Police spokeswoman Meredith Censullo explained that the initial call suggested a vehicle accident. However, once officers examined the scene, it became clear the situation was far more serious. “They found a woman with significant and serious injuries that were obviously not consistent with a traffic crash,” Censullo said in a statement to local media. She added that Fuenmayor’s wounds were so severe that she died at the scene before she could be transported for medical treatment.

The nature of the injuries prompted authorities to immediately treat the case as a homicide. Detectives have since taken over the investigation and are working to determine what led to Fuenmayor’s death. Out of respect for her relatives, police withheld her name until her family in Venezuela could be notified.

The incident rattled neighbors who either witnessed parts of the response or learned afterward what had happened. Esther Salters, who lives only a few feet from where the tragedy unfolded, recounted the events from her home. She said her nephew was the one who used her phone to call police after realizing something was terribly wrong outside.

Salters said she could not see the situation clearly from her window, so she asked her nephew to help her step outside. What she saw was heartbreaking. She described the victim as writhing in pain on the ground. “I couldn’t do nothing even if I walked over there, she was just rolling, rolling for her life,” Salters told reporters.

Other residents echoed similar feelings of shock, noting that violent incidents of this nature are uncommon in their neighborhood. Longtime resident Johnny Pyle expressed disbelief upon learning from police that the case was being investigated as a homicide. “Oh, so somebody killed her. Lord have mercy. That surprises us in this neighborhood,” he said.

The Bradenton Police Department has appealed to the public for help in solving the case. Investigators are urging anyone with knowledge about the incident or who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area Sunday evening to come forward. Detective Jeff Beckley has been assigned to the case and can be contacted directly at his official email. Authorities also reminded residents that anonymous tips can be submitted through Manatee CrimeStoppers.

While police have not yet shared further details about possible suspects or motives, the investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are reviewing evidence collected at the scene, speaking with nearby residents, and working to establish a timeline of events leading up to the fatal encounter.

The killing of Fuenmayor has also resonated with members of the wider community, particularly because she was identified as a mother and a woman with family ties abroad. Her death has left her relatives in Venezuela grappling with the sudden loss from afar while investigators in Florida work to bring clarity to what happened.

Bradenton police emphasized that the case is being treated with urgency and seriousness, given the violent nature of the crime and the shock it has caused among residents. They reiterated that cooperation from the public could play a crucial role in bringing justice for Fuenmayor and her family.

As detectives continue their investigation, neighbors on Eighth Avenue East remain unsettled, remembering the disturbing scene outside their homes and hoping for swift answers. For many, the image of Fuenmayor’s final moments is difficult to forget, serving as a reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike even in quiet neighborhoods.