A man in Florida is facing charges for murdering his estranged wife and placing her body inside his storage unit.
On Friday, the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit formally filed charges against Cory Hill for the murder of Shakeira Rucker, 37, of Winter Springs.
For now, Hill, 51, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm for Rucker’s death.
“This charge guarantees the defendant will be held without bond while we continue building our case for a potential First Degree Murder indictment in Rucker’s homicide,” the State Attorney’s Office said in the release. “Due to procedural rules, the State is limited to filing a Second Degree Murder charge by Information prior to presenting the case to the Orange County Grand Jury.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that the charges came after Rucker’s body was discovered in a self-storage unit in Apopka.
The State Attorney’s Office said, “Her body was discovered after someone made a complaint about a foul smell coming from inside a unit registered to Hill.”
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said, “The mother of four children, ages 7, 9, 16, and 18, was found dead in the unit with apparent gunshot wounds.”
Rucker went missing on Saturday November, 11. She was last seen in the evening at a restaurant in Davenport in Polk County with Hill.
On Nov. 14, he was named a person of interest in her disappearance. The following day, Winter Springs police released a photo of security video showing Hill and Rucker leaving the restaurant. She went missing after learning that Hill had been seeing another woman.
Rucker had recently discovered her estranged husband had been in a romantic relationship and living with another female. Rucker and the paramour learned they had both been deceived by Hill.
Hill was already in jail after being arrested on Nov. 13 in connection with his attempt to kill his ex-girlfriend, Angel Milligan the day before. On Nov. 12, Hill allegedly came to her house and tried to kill her after firing gunshots at her house.
For that incident, he is charged with four counts of second-degree attempted murder, burglary, shooting at a building and violation of a domestic violence injunction. When Rucker’s body was found, Hill was already in the Orange County Jail for those charges.
Milligan had only dated Hill for several months and ended the relationship in September. She ended the relationship when she found out he was married.
Hill remains in jail without bond stemming from his November arrest for attempted second-degree murder and other charges against his ex-girlfriend and her family.
As Hill awaits trial, Rucker’s family has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to support her children.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the tragic loss of our beloved Shakeira,” Rucker’s sister, Leonia “Dedra” Thornton, wrote in the GoFundMe.
“She was a loving mother to four beautiful children and a victim of senseless violence,” she wrote, adding later: “This was unexpected and has taken a major toll on her children. The funds will go toward her children’s future and to provide them with the care, comfort, and resources they need during this incredibly difficult time.”
