Authorities in Bradenton, Florida declared a missing woman dead a year after she vanished and her suspected brother took his own life.
Catherine Stirm, 67, vanished on January 22, 2024, and was reported missing on January 31.
Her car was found abandoned outside her brother Scott Stirm’s apartment complex just two days before he took his own life on February 1, 2024.
Doorbell camera footage caught Catherine entering her brother’s apartment on Jan. 22 and never leaving.
Throughout the following days, Scott was caught carrying “large, heavy-duty bags” out of the apartment.
A search of the apartment unveiled a hand saw, power saw, and cleaning supplies. Police searched a nearby landfill and found bloody clothing in a bag with Scott’s mail.
Investigators believe that Scott killed his sister and dismembered her. Catherine’s remains have not yet been located.
“We don’t know and we may never know what led to this,” said Bradenton Police Department’s Meredith Censullo. “We felt that Scott had those answers.”
