Woman found dead inside Miami Beach hotel room

MIAMI – A death investigation is underway after a woman’s body was found inside a hotel room in a busy and tourist-driven area of Miami Beach.

According to police, they received a call from a woman requesting a welfare check for her coworker, who was last seen Saturday, December 3.

Officers sent to the Sherry Frontenac Hotel at 65th Street and Collins Avenue found the woman dead inside a room.

Police said the death is being investigated as a homicide.

“It was scary because I came with my family, especially my daughter,” said Carmen Estebe, a guest at the hotel.

She said Tuesday evening officers swarmed the hotel.

“We saw lots of police. We saw a crime scene van,” said Estebe.

Paola Goni, who is staying nearby, was shocked to hear what had happened.

“I’m really astonished,” she said. “I thought perhaps drugs or theft, I never thought about a killing. Never. Never in my life.”

Juan Padin, a receptionist who works across the street, said he was surprised when he came to work Tuesday night.

“I came to work at 10 o’clock and the whole street was full of police officers, their vehicles, rescue trucks, and CSI vans. I’m shocked because it doesn’t happen around here, we don’t see that type of stuff around here, especially from that hotel. That hotel is pilots and stewardesses,” he said.

Police have not released any information on how the woman was killed but did say detectives are actively following several leads.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).