Friends of Holmes Beach businesswoman Sabine Musil-Buehler react to big break in murder case

MANATEE -- Sabine Musil-Buehler's loved ones never thought they would get answers in her death.

The businesswoman went missing Nov. 4, 2008, and was presumed dead. William Cumber, her then-boyfriend, was charged in October 2012 with second-degree murder, although investigators had not located her body. Traces of Musil-Buehler's blood found in her car and apartment were among the available evidence.

Even though Cumber was due to stand trial soon, after seven years Musil-Buehler's family and friends had given up hope that they would know the details of her disappearance and death. Detectives searched up and down the 7-mile barrier island for her body and never found it.

On Thursday, Cumber, 45, agreed to a plea deal that involved him serving 20 years in prison if he cooperated with investigators. The shackled man led authorities to a section of beach near 81st Street in Holmes Beach, where he said Musil-Buehler's remains were buried.

With this big break, Musil-Buehler's family and friends were finally able to get some clarity.

Nancy Ambrose said she learned Cumber admitted he killed her friend from Bradenton.com.

"I called my husband and said, 'You're not going to believe this,'" the 57-year-old said Thursday afternoon. "We both worked with her at Tradewinds Resort and Tortuga Inn Beach Resort."

Ambrose recalled the year 2000, when she would help Musil-Buehler with bookings at both resorts in Bradenton Beach. The women's relationship grew beyond work into a friendship. Ambrose described Musil-Buehler as a wonderful, dynamic person who often invited friends to her "porch parties."

"The thing about Sabine is she did not know a stranger. Everyone was her friend," Ambrose said. "She thought she could help everyone."

Musil-Buehler also had a soft spot for animals. After buying Haley's Motel, a property on Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Ambrose said Musil-Buehler kept a big bag of peanuts inside the office.

"Squirrels would run right into the office to get peanuts," she said. "Animals just adored her. That's just the kind of

person she was."

Ambrose said she never really talked to Cumber before her friend's disappearance, but that afterwards most people thought he was responsible.

"There were situations that were, in my mind, not good," she said. "I think that a lot of people thought that that would be the outcome, but then it wasn't way back when. I'm glad that finally he's admitted it and I hope that they can find her body and put it to rest the way she should be. It's been heartbreaking since that day."

Suzi Fox, executive director of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, said Musil-Buehler's good-natured reputation was well-deserved. The businesswoman volunteered with the organization in 1996 and 1997.

"When I think of her, I think of a very talented, creative woman who was very strong-willed. And she loved her grandchildren more than anything," Fox said. "Those are the three things I remember most about her. So when she went missing, having all these connections, I knew immediately something was wrong."

Anna Maria resident Caryn Hodge remembers working with Musil-Buehler on the first Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival. Hodge described her as assertive and as a hard worker.

"It's just a tragedy, and I'm so glad they found out what happened to her," Hodge said. "The worst is not knowing."

Ambrose said Musil-Buehler would have loved the day she went missing, because Barack Obama won the presidential election. Musil-Buehler had really wanted him to win, Ambrose added.

"I thought 'Oh, she'll never know,'" she said. "The saddest part of it was that she was just so excited about life. She just had so much to live for."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.

Kate Irby, Herald online/political reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7055. Follow her on Twitter @KateIrby.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 11:59 PM with the headline "Friends of Holmes Beach businesswoman Sabine Musil-Buehler react to big break in murder case ."