Missing Bradenton woman declared dead after a year. Her brother killed her, police say
A missing Bradenton woman has been declared dead after police say her brother likely dismembered and disposed of her body before taking his own life.
Although detectives still haven’t found 67-year-old Catherine Stirm, who was declared missing a year ago on Jan. 31, 2024, a Manatee County judge ruled her legally dead in November. Investigators say they believe her brother, 64-year-old Scott Stirm, killed her before killing himself.
The Bradenton Herald previously reported on Stirm’s disappearance in 2024, when police said they were “gravely concerned for Catherine’s welfare.”
Police say Catherine was last seen on Jan. 22, 2024, entering her brother’s apartment at the Sawgrass Cove apartment complex in West Bradenton. Surveillance footage never showed her leaving, but in the following days, police say cameras captured Scott struggling to move large, heavy-duty bags out of his unit.
Coworkers spoke with Catherine the morning of Jan. 22, but investigators say concern grew when she failed to report for work the next day at the home healthcare company where she had been employed for more than 20 years. According to police, her employer tried to contact her multiple times but only reached Scott, who initially claimed she was hospitalized with COVID-19 before later saying she had traveled to Michigan.
About a week later, a woman claiming to be Catherine called a coworker, but the employee immediately recognized the voice was not hers and ended the call. That same day, deputies conducted a welfare check at Catherine’s home, followed by another on Jan. 30, but detectives say she wasn’t there and her car was missing. Later that day, investigators found her car parked outside Scott’s home at Sawgrass Cove.
Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding Catherine’s disappearance, police say the case was assigned to a Bradenton Police Detective and the Manatee Homicide Investigation Unit.
Bradenton man killed sister, police say
Detectives say they executed a search warrant on Scott’s apartment on Feb. 1, recovering a hand saw, power saw and cleaning supplies. A search of the Manatee County landfill led to the discovery of bloody clothing, a knife and a hatchet inside a bag that also contained Scott’s mail, according to a news release.
Investigators say they tracked Scott’s vehicle to a Days Inn in Brooksville in Hernando County later that day. As Hernando County deputies and Manatee homicide detectives approached his motel room, they said Scott died by suicide. Investigators said they found firearms, ammunition, financial documents and Catherine’s driver’s license in Scott’s room.
Detectives said multiple items were tested for Catherine’s DNA, however, DNA tests were inconclusive due to “apparent attempts to destroy evidence.”
A judge declared Catherine legally dead in probate court on Nov. 11, 2024, but her case remains open. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeff Beckley at (941) 932-9356 or jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com.
