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BRADENTON, Fla. – Police in
Bradenton are actively investigating the murder of a transgender woman, Denisha Williams, which occurred 22 years ago.
Who killed Denisha Williams?
The backstory:
On February 28, 2003, a concerned neighbor noticed that Denisha Williams had broken her daily routine. Inside her apartment at what is now known as the Oak Park Apartments, a tragic discovery was made.
Detective Nichols described the scene: “It was a brutal, brutal scene. It was a pretty horrific scene. It was apparent that Denisha fought for her life.”
Denisha Williams was found dead inside her apartment at what is now the Oak Park Apartments in Bradenton on February 28, 2003.
Neighbors recalled that Williams always locked her door and only allowed known visitors inside.
Detective Nichols stated, “I want somebody to be held to justice. There is somebody walking around possibly in our community who committed this horrific crime and has not been held to justice yet.”
Who was Denisha Williams?
Dig deeper:
Denisha was born Donald and began her transition at an early age. She was open about her identity, accepted by her family, friends, and co-workers. “Denisha did not try to hide the fact that she was a transgender woman, and everyone in the community knew it,” said Detective Nichols.
Pictured: Denisha Williams, courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department.
Bradenton Police Detective Sherry Nichols keeps a photo of Denisha at her desk to remind her of the case’s significance. “She was just so full of life in her photos, and it just made me think about how much life she had to live,” Detective Nichols reflected. Denisha was 41 at the time of her death.
Detective Nichols expressed a personal connection to this case: “For some reason Denisha’s case just struck a chord with me.”
Cold case
What they’re saying:
Those who knew Denisha feel the impact of her loss as keenly today as they did in 2003. Eddie Dean Butler, a former co-worker and friend, stated, “We became best friends… I’m still shocked.”
Pictured: Denisha Williams, courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department.
Detective Nichols aims to utilize advances in DNA technology to find a suspect in this cold case. “She was at the prime of her life… it was stolen from her,” Nichols commented.
Williams’ photo sits on Detective Nichols’ desk as a daily reminder.
Her photo serves as a constant reminder for Detective Nichols. “She is in the forefront of my mind to make sure this is solved for her first and foremost, but her family as well. They still suffer so much from this,” she stated.
What you can do:
Anyone with information about Denisha’s case is urged to contact Detective Sherry Nichols at 941-932-9316 or via email at sherry.nichols@bradentonpd.com. Anonymous tips can be submitted to CrimeStoppers of Manatee County, Inc. at
www.manateecrimestoppers.com.
The Source: This story was written with information gathered by FOX 13’s Kimberly Kuizon.
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Key Information
- Incident Date: February 28, 2003
- Victim: Denisha Williams, a transgender woman
- Age at Death: 41 years old
- Location: Oak Park Apartments, Bradenton, Florida
- Current Status: Ongoing investigation; suspect still at large
- Contact for Information: Detective Sherry Nichols – 941-932-9316 or sherry.nichols@bradentonpd.com
- Anonymous Tips: www.manateecrimestoppers.com
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Article original publish date: 2025-02-06 08:00:00
Article source: www.fox13news.com
Read the full story at the original source: www.fox13news.com
