Melissa K. Smith, 37, of Leesburg, Florida, was found dead in her home on August 8, 2022. Police discovered her in the laundry room after responding in the early morning to a report of a deceased woman; she had suffered a fatal gunshot wound.

Investigators focused on 40-year-old Alphonza Bryant, who had been dating Smith for a short time. Bryant was initially arrested on August 10 for a probation violation tied to an unrelated battery charge. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts placed him at the scene on the night of the killing, and he became the primary suspect. Reports describe Bryant as having a prior violent criminal history, including a long prison term for armed robbery and a release from state custody in October 2021.

What details about the night of August 8 might still help piece together what happened in Smith’s home?