A quiet Tuesday morning in Sarasota was shattered by tragedy when deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office responded to a grim scene behind a retail store.
Authorities now confirm that what initially appeared to be a suspicious death investigation was in fact a murder-suicide involving two individuals believed to be experiencing homelessness in the area.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched just before 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday to Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, located off Cattleman Road.
Upon arrival, they found the bodies of 34-year-old Mandy Coxwell and 33-year-old Cameron Marsh under a semi-truck trailer in the store’s rear loading dock.
Investigators say that Marsh fatally shot Coxwell in the head before turning the gun on himself. The scene, concealed behind the building and beneath the trailer, was discovered by workers arriving early for their shifts. Emergency personnel confirmed both individuals were deceased upon arrival.
The relationship between Marsh and Coxwell is still under investigation, but early reports from nearby business employees suggest the two were often seen together in the area, panhandling or seeking shelter.
“We’d see them around a lot,” said one local worker who asked to remain anonymous. “Sometimes they kept to themselves. Other times they’d ask if anyone had food or spare change. It’s heartbreaking.”
Both individuals were believed to be without stable housing, living on the margins of the community. Their presence in the Cattleman Road area had been noticed by several businesses, but there were reportedly no known prior incidents or signs of violence involving the pair.
Investigators are still working to understand what led to the fatal act of violence. The sheriff’s office has not indicated whether a weapon was recovered at the scene, but officials stated that the evidence clearly pointed to Marsh as the shooter. No further suspects are being sought, and the case is being classified as a murder-suicide.
The Sarasota County community is grappling with the tragedy, which highlights the complex and often hidden struggles of individuals facing homelessness, mental health challenges, or substance abuse issues. Advocates for the unhoused say this is a stark reminder of the urgent need for accessible services and intervention programs that can reach people before crisis strikes.
“This is more than a police matter—it’s a human tragedy,” said one representative from a local outreach nonprofit. “People like Mandy and Cameron fall through the cracks every day. If we don’t address the root causes—mental health, addiction, poverty—we’re going to keep seeing situations like this.”
Authorities have not released details about any next of kin, but efforts are underway to notify family members. In the meantime, local organizations and community members are coming together to mourn the loss and shine a light on the broader issues surrounding homelessness and mental health.
As the investigation closes, what remains is a somber scene and a heartbreaking reminder that behind every statistic or headline are real people with stories that too often go unheard—until it’s too late.
