APOPKA, Fla. — A Winter Springs mother who went missing a week ago was found dead, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
What You Need To Know
- Winter Springs mother Shakeira Rucker was found dead in a storage unit in Apopka on Saturday after she was reported missing on Nov. 11
- Orange County Sheriff John Mina said Rucker appeared to have died from gunshot wounds, but an autopsy will still be conducted
- Rucker was last seen with her estranged husband, Cory Hill, in Polk County
- Mina said the Hill is the prime suspect in the investigation
Officials say Shakeira Rucker was found inside a self-storage unit around 5 p.m. Saturday, at 2400 Wiggins Road in Apopka after someone called to report an odor coming from inside one of them.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said Rucker appeared to have died from gunshot wounds, but an autopsy will still be conducted.
The sheriff's office says Rucker's family has been notified and that the case is now being investigated as a homicide.
Winter Springs Police said Rucker was last seen on surveillance video with her estranged husband, Cory Hill, in Polk County. Mina said that he is the prime suspect in the murder and is already being held at Orange County Jail charged with four counts of attempted homicide after shooting at his girlfriend and family on Nov. 12.
Mina said that officials will continue to collect evidence in order to charge Hill with Rucker's murder. According to officials, the storage unit was registered under Hill's name.
Rucker was reported as missing on Saturday, Nov. 11.
The search was expanded out to four counties: Lake, Orange, Seminole and Polk. Winter Springs Police, with assistance from several other agencies including Mount Dora Police, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI, took part in the week-long search.
Winter Springs Police Chief Matt Tracht said teams worked around the clock to find leads in the case.
"It's not the outcome we expected. We grieve with Shakeira's family," he said during a press conference.