New Charges Against Man Connected To Missing Woman’s Death: MCSO

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — New charges have been filed against the suspect in the death of a woman whose body was found June 9 badly decomposed in a Palmetto drainage ditch.

William Redden now faces sexual battery of an incapacitated victim and voyeurism charges in the death of Stephanie Shenefield, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The 51-year-old convicted felon was initially charged with abuse of a corpse, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an altered firearm with the serial numbers removed. Later, a charge of tampering with evidence was added.

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The 38-year-old Bradenton mother went missing June 3, when an Uber driver dropped her off at Redden’s Palmetto home around 1 a.m. Her body was found in a ditch between 21st Street Court E. and 29th Street E.

Video surveillance footage taken from his home shows him moving Shenefield’s body wrapped in a sheet into the backseat of his car, the sheriff's office said.

An autopsy report found no signs of trauma on her body. Investigators are now awaiting the results of a toxicology report to determine her cause of death.

Redden remains in Manatee County Jail. His total bond is currently $218,000. A bond for his sexual battery charge will be set at his first court appearance, MCSO said.