MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A woman was fatally beaten early Tuesday morning outside the Miami City Ballet building in Miami Beach, according to 7News sources.
Miami Beach Police confirmed to 7News that they are conducting a death investigation at 22nd Street and Liberty Avenue. A call was placed at around 6 a.m. about someone finding the body of the woman.
“Upon arrival, officers did locate the victim, who was deceased at the time and was pronounced by Miami Beach Fire Rescue,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess.
7News cameras captured a heavy police presence on the steps of the Miami City Ballet, across the street from Collins Park.
The woman was partially clothed and was near what appeared to be a blood-soaked blanket. She was discovered on the front steps.
Residents in the area told 7News that homeless women sleep on those steps.
“I probably knew her because I’m here, you know, I live around here myself for 30 years,” George Buchholz said. “Who wouldn’t be sad? I mean, anybody does not deserve to die in a park like this.”
Police have shut down 22nd Street in front of the Miami Beach Regional Library as they continue to investigate.
7News cameras captured investigators taking photos of the crime scene and gathering evidence.
The body has since been removed by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The woman’s identity has not been disclosed.
Miami City Ballet released a statement on Tuesday:
Miami City Ballet is cooperating with the authorities investigating the tragic incident that occurred in the area outside our building early this morning. We do not comment on ongoing investigations, therefore, we are unable to offer any further details.
Billy Zavelson
Richard Kornberg & Associates
As people headed to the Miami Beach Regional Library on Tuesday, they found the doors locked as they learned they were close to where a woman had been murdered.
“Oh, just a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach,” said Daniela Tabbara, a Miami Beach resident. “I hope there are some leads on it”
The ballet building and the library both have surveillance systems. It is unclear if any of the cameras captured the brutal killing.
Now, police are searching for the subject behind the death of the woman.
“Our organization is very confident that we will be able to identify and arrest the person responsible for this heinous crime,” said Bess. “We have every resource in our criminal investigations division, boots on the ground, and actively looking for the subject.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Miami Beach Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 305-673-7945.
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