Double Homicide Victims' Kids Benefit From Fundraiser

The five children left behind following a double homicide in Bradenton are getting a little help from the community.

The Suncoast College of Health has kicked off an online fundraiser on gofundme to help pay for burial expenses and also to assist the children in getting “situated in family member homes.” The account was established following Thursday’s murders and had raised nearly $4,000 by Friday morning.

The incident that prompted the fundraiser occurred early Thursday morning when three masked men smashed out front door glass at the 3910 Southern Parkway home of Ester Deneus and Kantrell Brooks, both 29. The men then proceeded to shoot and kill Brooks near the door before shooting and killing Deneus inside the home, the Bradenton Police Department said.

Five children, ages 1 to 11, were inside the home at the time.

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Deneus was a practical nurse and a student at the Suncoast College of Health working on her RN degree. “She was just shy a semester left in her program and was well on her way to graduating with her associate of science in nursing,” the gofundme campaign states.

Lori Barnes, Suncoast’s president and owner, described her student.

“Ms. Deneus was a wonderful student and a dedicated nurse,” Barnes wrote. “She showed compassion and patient advocacy toward all her patients and will be missed.”

Barnes said faculty at the school was devastated by the news.

Police continue to search for leads in the murders and have released surveillance footage taken from the home on the morning of the attack. Anyone with information about the crime or the suspects is asked to contact Det. Beckley at 941-932-9300, Ext. 356. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-634-8477 or sending an E-Tip through www.manateecrimestoppers.com.