Denisha Williams

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Bradenton Police Department (FL)

Offense Location:

Bradenton, Florida

Summary:

41-year-old Denisha Williams was found beaten to death in her Bradenton apartment in 2003. Her killing remains unsolved and her case is still officially open with city detectives. Investigators say the case is solvable using modern DNA testing and genetic genealogy, but funding remains a challenge.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

On February 27, 2003, Denisha Williams was at home in her Bradenton apartment watching basketball. She was on the phone with her younger sister, Anna Brookins, but cut the conversation short because basketball was on. It would be the last time they ever spoke. By morning, Williams was dead. The next day, Bradenton police were called to the apartment complex after a neighbor reported water leaking into their unit. Detectives said that water was coming from Williams' bathtub. Inside the bathroom, investigators found the 41-year-old beaten to death. Williams suffered blunt and sharp force trauma to her head and neck, injuries consistent with a violent struggle. Denisha was placed in a bathtub full of water, investigators believe, in an attempt to cover up DNA evidence, however, they were not completely successful in not leaving evidence behind.

Additional Details:

Denisha Williams was originally born as Donald and transitioned at an early age. She did not try to hide the fact that she was a transgender woman and everyone in the community knew it from the neighbors, co-workers and friends and family. She was accepted by her family and friends. She had a great job. She was a productive member of society. Denisha grew up in a large family in Sarasota. She was number seven in her family. Her sister Anna Brookins was number eight. They were extremely close because of the way they were raised and the way they grew up. Their mother died shortly after the murder, never knowing who killed her daughter. Denisha's sister said, "My mom died of a broken heart because she never got over it." Early leads focused on two people close to Williams who were in the area at the time. But DNA evidence later ruled them out as the killers. With no arrests, the case went cold. Investigators say the case is solvable using modern DNA testing and genetic genealogy, but funding remains a challenge. Detectives believe the killer is someone Denisha knew and that their name could already be in the case files. Detectives recovered DNA at the scene, yet no suspect has been identified. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Manatee County Crime Stoppers, where tipsters may be eligible for a reward.

Case Last Updated:

Oct 19, 2026