Missing person declared deceased

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

BPD

 

Catherine Stirm, 67, reported missing and endangered on January 31, 2024, has been declared deceased by a Manatee County Probate judge. Her body has not been located. Detectives with the Manatee Homicide Investigative Unit believe Scott Stirm, Catherine’s brother, had knowledge of her death, and that she was likely dismembered and disposed of in an unknown location. Scott Stirm, 64, died by suicide on February 1, 2024.

Catherine spoke with co-workers by phone on the morning of January 22, 2024. She was a dedicated employee of a local home healthcare company for more than 20 years and, during that time, kept the same routine. Co-workers were immediately concerned when Catherine failed to report for work on January 23.

For several days, Catherine’s employer made multiple attempts to contact her. Instead, they reached Scott Stirm, who provided changing reasons for her absence. First, he said Catherine was hospitalized with COVID-19. Later, he said she traveled to Michigan. On the evening of January 29, a woman claiming to be Catherine called a co-worker at the healthcare company. However, the employee immediately recognized it wasn’t her, and the call was terminated.

Manatee County deputies conducted welfare checks at Catherine’s home in the Fountain Lakes Condominium complex on January 29 and January 30. Catherine wasn’t home, and her car wasn’t in the parking lot. Her vehicle was located on January 30, parked outside of Scott’s residence at the Sawgrass Cove Apartment Complex in Bradenton.

 

Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding Catherine’s disappearance, the case was assigned to Bradenton Police Detective Jeff Beckley and the Manatee Homicide Investigative Unit. The following information was collected in the proceeding days:

 

  • Catherine is seen on a door camera entering Scott’s apartment on January 22. She is never seen leaving.

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  • After January 22, the camera recorded Scott struggling to carry and drag large, heavy-duty bags out of his apartment. On January 31, Scott appeared to move personal belongings.

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  • Search warrants were obtained for Scott’s apartment on February 1. Crime Scene Investigators recovered several items, including a hand saw, power saw, and cleaning products. During another search warrant executed at the Manatee County landfill, detectives recovered a knife, hatchet, and bloody clothing in a bag that also contained Scott’s mail.

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  • Scott’s vehicle was located at the Days Inn, 6320 Windmere Rd., Brooksville, on the night of February 1, and Hernando County deputies and Manatee detectives responded to the room registered to Scott. Upon their arrival, Scott committed suicide. Evidence recovered with Scott included several handguns, ammunition, financial documents, and Catherine’s driver’s license.

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  • Multiple items of evidence were tested for Catherine’s DNA. However, due to apparent attempts to destroy evidence, DNA tests were inconclusive.

  • No one has spoken with Catherine since January 22, and there haven’t been any sightings of her in the past year.

  • Catherine was declared deceased in Manatee County Probate Court on November 11, 2024.

 

While Catherine is presumed deceased, her case remains open. If you have information regarding Catherine or Scott Stirm, contact Detective Jeff Beckley at [email protected].