A 34-year-old man is being held without bond on a first-degree murder charge after police say Daneshia Heller, a 30-year-old mother of three, was found dead near a dumpster outside an apartment complex in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 18.
The arrest of Altavious Powell, of Miami Gardens, has shifted the case from an active search to a fast-moving investigation built around forensic evidence, digital records and interviews. Detectives say they are still working to establish a motive and a full timeline, even as Heller’s family has publicly mourned and demanded answers. Police also held a news conference this week to push back against online posts claiming a serial killer was operating in the city, calling those rumors false and saying the suspect in Heller’s killing is in custody.
Officers were called to the 200 block of Northwest 15th Avenue shortly before 7:30 a.m. Feb. 18 after a caller reported finding a woman’s body near a dumpster, police said. Investigators later identified the woman as Heller. Family members said she was found partially unclothed and covered with cardboard, details that quickly spread through the neighborhood and across social media. Fort Lauderdale Police Homicide Sgt. Don Geiger said at a Tuesday news conference that the department moved to address public fear after rumors began circulating widely. “We do not have a serial killer that we’re looking at in the city of Fort Lauderdale,” Geiger said.
Police have described Heller’s death as a homicide and said she was shot. Investigators said they believe Heller was killed inside a vacant apartment and that her body was then left outside near the dumpster, where it was later discovered. Geiger said Powell was linked to the killing through DNA found at the crime scene. Authorities have not publicly explained what investigators believe happened inside the vacant unit, or how they believe Heller ended up there, but they said the investigation is ongoing and includes the review of electronic evidence. Geiger said detectives were working through “cell phone data, text messages, and things like that” as they try to verify details and determine why Heller was killed.
Powell was taken into custody on Thursday, Feb. 19, according to police and local reports. Investigators have said he was initially arrested on an unrelated matter and that detectives later identified him as a homicide suspect in Heller’s case. Police have not publicly described the earlier arrest or how it led investigators to focus on Powell, beyond saying their work continued after he was in custody. Detectives have also said it is unclear what relationship, if any, existed between Powell and Heller. Family members told local outlets they did not know him, and police have not said whether they believe the two had met before Feb. 18.
As investigators worked to lock down facts, the case became wrapped in online speculation in Broward County and beyond. Police said posts claiming multiple bodies had been found, or that a serial killer was responsible, were not supported by evidence. Geiger said the rumors created a safety issue by spreading descriptions of vehicles and people who were not connected to the homicide, which can put innocent residents at risk. He said there was nothing to suggest other killings in Fort Lauderdale were linked to Heller’s death. Detectives, he said, are treating the homicide as a single case with one identified suspect and are continuing to build evidence that can stand up in court.
Heller’s family has described her as loving and caring and said she leaves behind three young daughters. In interviews after Powell’s arrest, relatives said grief and anger have been compounded by the way they learned details of the scene and by the speed of rumors online. Heller’s mother, Temekia Connor, called the loss devastating and questioned what could have led to the killing. Her aunt, Latoya Snell, said the family has leaned on one another in the days since the discovery, struggling to sleep as they wait for answers. Her father, David Heller, told reporters that he wants justice and said his daughter “was somebody,” adding that she would tell people she loved them before she left.
The location of the investigation has also drawn attention because it sits near homes, a school and busy neighborhood streets. Early on Feb. 18, residents saw patrol cars and detectives in the area and crime scene work underway. Police have not released details about witnesses, surveillance video, or any recovered weapon, and they have not said whether they believe the shooting happened at the location where the body was found or somewhere nearby. Detectives have said they believe the killing occurred inside a vacant apartment, but they have not publicly identified the specific building or unit, or how long they believe the body was outside before it was discovered.
Legal proceedings are now running alongside the police investigation. Powell is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond, authorities said. Police have described the charge as premeditated murder in public statements about the case. Prosecutors have not publicly laid out a theory in open court in the materials summarized by local outlets, and investigators have said they are still trying to determine motive. A public defender assigned to Powell filed a motion to withdraw from the case because of a conflict related to a previous representation of Heller, according to court filings described in local reporting. A hearing on that request was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Detectives said the case will continue to develop even with Powell in custody. Investigators are still working to confirm the sequence of events between the vacant apartment and where Heller’s body was found, and they have said they are continuing to review records and digital evidence. Geiger said investigators expect to keep interviewing people and completing forensic work while prosecutors prepare for the next steps in court. Those steps can include formal hearings, possible changes to defense counsel if the conflict motion is granted, and the later exchange of evidence as the case moves toward trial or any potential plea negotiations.
For Heller’s relatives, the days after the arrest have been marked by public mourning and a push to keep attention on the victim rather than on rumors. Family members have spoken at news conferences and in interviews, describing the death as cruel and calling for accountability. Police, meanwhile, have urged the public not to amplify unverified claims as detectives work to confirm facts that can be proven. The department has said the suspect is connected only to Heller’s killing at this time, and investigators have warned that false posts can create new fear in a community already shaken by a homicide close to where families live.
The case stood at an early court stage this week, with Powell held without bond and investigators continuing to work toward a clearer motive and timeline, and with the next public milestone set for the Feb. 25 hearing on the public defender’s request to withdraw.
Author note: Last updated February 26, 2026.