A Florida man has been arrested in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of a 56-year-old Pennsylvania woman who was later found dead under a tarp on a South Florida beach the morning after Christmas, according to law enforcement and court records, as reported by The New York Post.
Brandon Ward McCray, 28, was taken into custody by Hollywood Police with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service for alleged crimes committed against Heather Asendorf, who was visiting friends in the beach town of Hollywood, Florida, during the holiday season.
Asendorf’s body was discovered by a passerby just after 7 a.m. on Dec. 26 on a beach near Cleveland Street in Hollywood, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Brandon McCray, 28, who pulled a gun on a tow truck driver in 2023, is now charged with kidnapping, raping, and strangling Heather Asendorf, 56.
Heather was found dead on Hollywood Beach, FL, the day after Christmas. pic.twitter.com/SBtLxPBcpe
— National Conservative (@NatCon2022) January 7, 2026
Authorities said foul play was suspected, though her official cause of death has not been released.
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Asendorf had been staying at a hotel approximately one block from where her body was found. Her friend, Steve Sarsfield, told the outlet she had been in the area visiting friends for Christmas.
Known among friends by the nickname “Barbie,” Asendorf was described as having a colorful personality and often wore bright outfits and blonde wigs. “Rainbow Brite and Barbie mixed together,” Sarsfield said.
Sarsfield, a Hallandale Beach resident, said he last saw Asendorf on Dec. 24 at the Hollywood Beach Bandshell, an outdoor theater and plaza where she frequently spent time during her visits to Florida.
“She was a really sweet girl. Everybody really liked her. She did her own dance,” he said, describing their 25-year friendship.
Authorities have confirmed that Asendorf and McCray knew each other but have not disclosed details about the nature of their relationship.
McCray was arrested on Dec. 30 and charged with two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, sexual battery of a victim over 12 years of age, kidnapping, battery by strangulation, and battery, according to arrest records reviewed by The Post. He has not been charged in Asendorf’s death.
According to those records, McCray weighs approximately 310 pounds and has several distinctive tattoos, including “Sophia,” “Stay Humble Hustle Hard,” and “Love Yours.”
⚠️ WARNING: This post contains descriptions of kidnapping, sexual battery, and strangulation.
A Florida man has been arrested after the body of a 56-year-old woman was discovered wrapped in a white blanket on Hollywood Beach. Brandon McCray, 28, was taken into custody on… pic.twitter.com/o7bPmfDuzX
— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) January 6, 2026
Police have not explained how McCray was linked to the case and have sealed the arrest warrant.
In a statement, Hollywood police said, “This case remains an active criminal investigation. There is no indication of a broader threat to the community.”
Court records show McCray had been arrested less than two weeks before Asendorf’s death on an outstanding warrant related to disorderly intoxication and resisting in 2023. He bonded out of jail on Dec. 19.
McCray is currently being held at the North Broward County Jail on a $770,000 bond and is subject to GPS monitoring, according to jail records. The investigation into Asendorf’s death remains ongoing.
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