No Signs Of Trauma On Body Of Woman Found In Palmetto Ditch: MCSO

PALMETTO, FL — An autopsy report found no signs of trauma on a woman whose body was found badly decomposed in a Palmetto drainage ditch Thursday evening, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Investigators are now awaiting the results of a toxicology report to determine Stephanie Shenefield’s cause of death.

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

• Related Story: Missing Woman's Body Found In Drainage Ditch, Man Charged: Sheriff

Video surveillance footage taken from Redden’s home shows the 51-year-old previously convicted felon moving her body wrapped in a sheet into the backseat of his car, the sheriff’s office said.

He 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.

In addition to these previous charges, Redden now faces one count of tampering with evidence, MCSO said.

He remains in Manatee County Jail on a $208,000 bond.