Crystal Pena, 36, was found shot to death inside her Bradenton home in the early morning hours of October 10, 2025. Deputies were sent to the 6800 block of 26th Street West after the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office relayed a report from a man who said he had driven an acquaintance to Pena’s residence and then heard multiple gunshots around 1:20 a.m. When Manatee County deputies arrived, they discovered Pena deceased.
Investigators quickly identified the suspected gunman as Cesar Cortes, 28, described as Pena’s ex-boyfriend. According to the witness, Cortes asked for a ride to her home; after the shots were heard, Cortes fled and the two men returned to Wimauma. About an hour later, the witness contacted law enforcement to report what had happened. Cortes was located and taken into custody by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 7:40 a.m., and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office announced that he was charged with murder.
Public records and local reporting corroborated Pena’s identity, age, and the date of her death, and community memorial pages noted she was lost to gun violence in Bradenton on October 10. As of the initial announcements, detectives said the investigation remained active while Cortes faced the murder charge in connection with her killing.
