Bradenton police seek help in double homicide that 'was not random'
BRADENTON -- Police are imploring anyone with information about Thursday's double homicide of the parents to five children in Bradenton to come forward.
"Somebody knows who did this," Lt. James Racky of the Bradenton Police Department said. "We just need that one tip to lead to one suspect -- that way, we can get at least one of them in jail. But we need progress and we need help from the community."
Police say the couple was targeted by the shooters.
"It was not a random act," Racky said.
Police responded at 3:51 a.m. Thursday to the 3900 block of Southern Parkway West when the couple's home security alarm system was triggered by a break-in. Esther Deneus and her boyfriend, Kantral Markeith Brooks, both 29, were found shot to death in their home.
Their five children were home at the time, all between the ages of 1 and 11, and at least one witnessed the killings. No injuries to the children were reported.
"The mindset of these guys that bust into a home and shoot the parents in front of these kids; we need to get these types of persons off the street before they hurt anyone else," Racky said.
Police said they had not yet received preliminary autopsy results.
Tips to Crimestoppers have not yet led to anything of value, he said.
Surveillance footage from the front porch shows three masked intruders walking up to the home's front-door windows, one breaking the door's glass window with a brick and then repeatedly shooting into the home before going inside.
Brooks was shot near the door and Deneus was shot farther inside the home. With a four-second video delay before the subjects entered, police say they cannot determine where the victims had been.
"They could have been anywhere in the house and come to investigate the noise," Racky said.
Police are still working with the children and other relatives to determine if anything was stolen. Child Protective Services is continuing to work with the children because at least one witnessed the fatal shootings.
On Friday, the neighborhood seemed to return to a normal routine along the usually busy drag of Southern Parkway. Neighbors were filled with questions, including whether the killers had been located.
One next-door neighbor said she did not hear the shots. Another neighbor said nothing like this had ever happened on their street.
The neighbors agreed the victims were friendly and the family never bothered anyone to their knowledge.
The Bradenton Herald contacted a sister of Deneus who said she was too distraught Friday to speak about the couple.
Former arrests
Police have not released any suspected motive for the slayings.
Brooks had a criminal history. His most recent arrest in Bradenton was April 17, 2013, on charges of fleeing to elude law enforcement, to which he pleaded no contest. He was sentenced to six months jail time, but the court later granted six months house arrest instead.
On Oct. 31, 2011, Brooks was released from a Florida prison after serving more than two years of a 26-month sentence for a conviction of fleeing law enforcement. He was also charged with driving with a suspended driver's license and violation of probation for previous drug convictions.
On Feb. 11, 2008, Brooks was released after serving 16 months of 26-month concurrent sentences for three separate drug cases as a youthful offender. Brooks entered no contest pleas for all charges of possession of cocaine, sale of cocaine and sale of cocaine within 1,000 of a church.
Prior arrests also include a charge of robbery for sudden snatching, which was not prosecuted by the State Attorney's Office.
Funds for children
Dr. Lori Barnes, owner and president of Suncoast College of Health, where Deneus was a registered nursing student, has started a Go Fund Me webpage to help the family with burial costs and supporting the children. As of 5 p.m. Friday, the fund had raised $4,535 of its listed $10,000 goal. The site: gofundme.com/yz8m7k.
"The fact is, wherever these children go, it's going to be a financial burden," Barnes said. "We wanted to help with that in any way that we could."
Barnes has been in constant contact with the family, updating them on the fund and checking on how they are doing, she said. Once the fund goal is met, Barnes intends to distribute the money evenly among family members responsible for the children and paying for funeral arrangements.
"Right now is the time for the community to come together and show they care," Barnes said. "This is not about anything else but that."
Barnes said they have also looked into setting up donations for clothing and school supplies for the children.
The school plans to honor Deneus, a licensed practical nurse, with a posthumous degree since she was so close to completing her degree as a registered nurse.
"From my understanding, the kids are doing well and are safe with family," Barnes said. "The family is just trying to get through everything one day at a time. They are in extreme distress."
It was obvious to everyone who met Deneus, Barnes said, she was a dedicated mother who would do anything for her children.
"She was a bright young woman," Barnes said. "And she was trying to go to school to better herself, so she could provide for her kids."
Anyone with information can call Bradenton police detective Jeff Beckley at 941-932-9300, ext. 356, or remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 or send an anonymous e-tip through the web.
Kate Irby, Herald online/political reporter, contributed to this report.
Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049 or jdeleon@bradenton.com. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.
This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Bradenton police seek help in double homicide that 'was not random' ."