Bradenton police investigating homicide after woman dies at scene of crash

BRADENTON, Fla. - A woman’s death is being investigated as a homicide after police say she suffered extensive injuries that were inconsistent with the crash scene where she was found.

What we know:

A noise outside Esther Salter's home in the 2100 block of 8th Ave E caught her attention Sunday night around 8:30. 

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"I was sitting out looking at tv and then I just heard a bump and that was it," said Salters. 

Staying inside, Salters called her nephew for help. 

"It scared me. I thought somebody was coming to break into my house," she told FOX 13. 

They found a car had hit Salter's mailbox, but it was what they found outside the car that caused them great concern. 

"I saw the person over there just rolling, but we couldn’t go to them, and we called the police right away," she said. 

At the scene, police said they found Thania Fuenmayor, 44, of Manatee County, suffering from extensive injuries, inconsistent with the crash. She died at the scene.

"Vehicle versus mailbox, that’s what you are anticipating to find, but then we gathered some additional information from the callers who reported back to us from 911, and they were noticing some very unusual things about the women who had been in the vehicle," said Meredith Censullo with the Bradenton Police Department. 

"It was clear she was suffering from some extreme injuries that could not possibly have been caused by her vehicle running into a mailbox," said Censullo. 

What we don't know:

Police said Fuenmayor was not the victim of gunfire and an investigation is underway to provide answers and accountability. 

"I'm praying they find out who it is," said Salters. 

What you can do:

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Jeff Beckley at jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com. Tips can be submitted anonymously to http://manateecrimestoppers.com.