Upon entering the missing woman’s apartment, the police immediately smelled strong bleach. In the bedroom, they discovered a body lying naked on the bed.
Sasha Samsudean lived alone in an apartment in downtown Orlando, Florida, USA. It was a building considered safe, modern, equipped with 24/7 security cameras, and digital locks for each unit. However, these security measures couldn’t prevent a horrifying threat from within.
Mysterious Disappearance
Sasha Samsudean, 27, graduated from the University of Florida and worked for a real estate company specializing in apartment rentals in Orlando, Florida, USA. Those around Sasha described her as beautiful, always bubbly and cheerful, hardworking, and fond of going out most weekends.
In 2015, Sasha lived alone in an apartment in downtown Orlando. It was a modern building with 24/7 security cameras and digital locks for each unit.
On the night of October 17, 2015, Sasha went out with a group of friends to the Attic nightclub. Anthony Roper, one of her friends, said Sasha left around 12:30 am. Anthony mentioned that it was normal for them to split up, go to another bar, and meet up again. Although they didn’t see Sasha for the rest of the night, Anthony said they had plans to have breakfast together.
The next morning, Sasha didn’t show up at the meeting point and didn’t respond to any messages or calls. Sasha was an avid social media user, but hours went by without any activity from her.
Later that day, after many unsuccessful attempts to contact her, Roper and two friends decided to go to the condominium where Sasha lived to check on her. There, they saw Sasha’s car, and their worry escalated when they noticed the gift she was supposed to bring to a birthday party on that day.
After knocking on her apartment door several times without any response, Roper called the police to request a welfare check.
Naked Body on the Bed
As soon as they entered Sasha’s apartment, the police officers immediately smelled strong bleach. In the bedroom, they found hair and an arm protruding from the blanket. It was Sasha, dead on the bed.
The victim’s naked body was wrapped in a comforter, her shirt and bra torn, missing her pants and underwear. There were no signs of forced entry, but Sasha’s cell phone, wallet, and keys were missing.
The medical examiner confirmed that Sasha had been strangled, with severe head injuries and scratches on her body consistent with someone using force to restrain her.
Investigators determined that while attempting to eliminate evidence with bleach, the perpetrator inadvertently left traces at the scene. Firstly, a toilet seat and lid were left up, which was unusual in a household consisting only of women.
Additionally, although Sasha lived alone, the police found unfamiliar fingerprints under the toilet seat and a partial shoe print on the floor. A sample of unknown DNA was also collected from Sasha’s chest and neck.
The police then collected footage from security cameras on all floors of the condominium, in the hallways, and near the exits. They also compiled data from street cameras along the route Sasha took home.
While waiting, investigators spoke to the nighttime security guard of the condominium on that day. His name was Steven Duxbury.
Night Encounter
Steven told investigators that he had seen Sasha and two other women at the building entrance, but Sasha couldn’t remember the access code. She also didn’t have her cell phone, and couldn’t produce any identification, or a key card, so he couldn’t grant her access to the apartment complex.
Steven mentioned that Sasha seemed intoxicated and suggested he walk her to her car to check if her belongings were there. They both then stepped outside. Sasha suddenly remembered her code, but when she tried it, it didn’t work. Steven said he had to return to his duties, and at that moment, he saw Sasha following another resident to enter the building. Steven affirmed that the last time he saw Sasha was when she was attempting to enter her apartment’s security code.
The man whom Steven followed was identified through the building’s digital key history. He confirmed that Sasha seemed “pretty intoxicated” and was proven not to be involved in her death.
Clues from Security Cameras
Police reviewed security camera footage, starting with images of Sasha leaving the bar and walking home alone. She stood out wearing white pants and a purple top, appearing unsteady, seemingly intoxicated. Then, Sasha started running and disappeared due to a malfunctioning tape.
Sasha was seen again 6 seconds later, accompanied by two women. Police identified these two individuals. They stated that while sitting in a taxi that night, they saw Sasha stumbling down the street, followed by a man attempting to talk to her.
Concerned for Sasha’s safety, they approached her. Since they couldn’t find any identification or a cell phone, they suggested Sasha go with them to her apartment complex. Upon arrival, they escorted Sasha inside and left when they saw her talking to the building’s security guard. They believed Sasha was safe.
Next, Sasha was spotted at 1:46 am, walking towards her apartment. A male resident of the building approached her to ask if she was okay. After Sasha confirmed she was, he walked away and was no longer seen on surveillance cameras. Police ruled him out.
Sasha was then seen at 2:06 am, making a loud noise with her shoes. At 2:25 am, Sasha appeared with security guard Steven Duxbury. They walked to the parking lot, consistent with Steven’s earlier statement to the police.
Finding no further leads, police continued to investigate Sasha’s two ex-boyfriends.
Suspicious Security Guard
The first man, named Taylor, was a bartender. Taylor stated that they still talked despite breaking up and affirmed that he was working until 9:30 p.m. on the night Sasha was murdered. He also agreed to provide a DNA sample and was ruled out after the results didn’t match.
The next individual, Ben, became a suspect because Sasha sent him a text at 5:12 a.m. The content consisted of only the word “Ben,” which was also the last message she sent.
Ben stated that he and Sasha had been dating briefly. They had planned to go out that weekend but didn’t follow through. Ben insisted that he was at his friend’s house the entire night Sasha was murdered and didn’t leave. His DNA also didn’t match the sample at the crime scene and was removed from the suspect list.
At this point, a neighbor from the floor above Sasha’s apartment told the police that she had seen Sasha in the hallway on that night and appeared to be being followed by Steven Duxbury, the condominium’s security guard. When investigators reviewed the building’s security footage more closely, they observed Steven’s suspicious behavior, completely contradicting his initial account.
Strange Behavior
Security footage from 1:46 a.m. showed Sasha wandering on the floors outside and staircase of the building. Steven also traversed the floors and staircase near Sasha for nearly 40 minutes, using his own key to pass through some locked doors.
Previously, Steven stated that he left work at 6 a.m., but at 6:36 a.m., the camera captured him in a uniform with a white trash bag with red handles exiting the door leading to the second-floor parking garage where his car was parked. About 1-2 minutes later, Steven was seen returning to the building, empty-handed.
Police found it odd because collecting trash wasn’t part of the duties of a security guard at this condominium. Additionally, similar trash bags were found in Sasha’s apartment.
Police asked Steven to undergo a polygraph test. Investigators were surprised when Steven asked if they suspected him of being inside Sasha’s apartment or if Sasha was strangled. At this point, the cause of Sasha’s death had not been widely reported.
Upon receiving a search warrant for Steven’s home and phone, police discovered Steven had used the browser on his smartphone to search for information on how to unlock Kwikset digital locks—the type of lock used in Sasha’s apartment.
This coincided with the 90-minute period during which Steven was absent from any security footage or other patrol data.
At this point, the police believed they had found the suspect.
The Truth Revealed
Comparing the fingerprints Steven provided to the management company when applying for the security guard position, investigators found a match with the unknown fingerprints found on the edge of the toilet bowl and on the bedside table in Sasha’s apartment.
Furthermore, analysis results showed that the DNA sample found on Sasha’s chest was indeed Steven’s. Additionally, the soles of some of Steven’s shoes matched the shoeprints in the victim’s apartment.
The police continued to interrogate Steven. He agreed to undergo a polygraph test. The results revealed that his account of meeting Sasha earlier was entirely fabricated. Previously, Steven claimed he never entered Sasha’s apartment and last saw her when she was outside her apartment, trying to remember her password.
Police noticed several scratches on Steven’s arms, one resembling a bite mark. Investigators believed these were caused by Sasha while she struggled against her attacker.
Two Life Sentences for the Murderer
On October 30, 2015, Stephen Duxbury was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted sexual assault by force, and burglary.
The prosecution alleged that when Sasha returned drunk after a night out with friends on October 17, Stephen, instead of ensuring her safety back to her apartment as the duty of a condominium security guard, used his position to break into her apartment, sexually assault, and murder her. After strangling the victim, he wrapped her body in a comforter and used cleaning supplies to erase traces.
On November 21, 2017, after a six-day trial, Stephen was found guilty on all charges. The jury sentenced Stephen to two life sentences without parole for first-degree murder and sexual assault. Additionally, he received an additional 15 years for burglary.
Sasha’s relatives then filed a lawsuit against the condominium and security company. Despite passing a background check, Stephen was hired as a security guard at the condominium five months before Sasha was murdered.
However, he quickly became a subject of numerous complaints from residents. In May 2015, a young female resident reported that Stephen had acted inappropriately after he followed her to her apartment.
The lawsuit also emphasized the lack of surveillance cameras in the common area hallways. This provided an opportunity for Stephen to break into Sasha’s apartment while she was asleep without being detected.
Sasha’s parents were devastated by their daughter’s death. Her mother, a former emergency room nurse, had to quit her job due to difficulties in treating rape victims.
