<p class="speakable">A <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/southeast/florida" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Florida man</a> is behind bars after allegedly killing a woman and leaving her body on a popular beach the day after Christmas.</p><p class="speakable">Brandon Ward McCray, 28, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals and Hollywood Police Department on Dec. 30, 2025 and charged with <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/sex-crimes" rel="noopener" target="_blank">sexual battery</a>, kidnapping, battery and battery by strangulation, according to police records obtained by Fox News Digital. </p><p>Authorities responded to a call regarding a body on the sand of Hollywood Beach – located approximately 15 miles from Fort Lauderdale Beach – at around 7 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 26, 2025, <a href="https://www.local10.com/news/local/2026/01/05/man-arrested-on-sexual-battery-kidnapping-charges-after-woman-found-dead-on-hollywood-beach/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><u>according to</u></a> WPLG.  The victim, later identified as 56-year-old Heather Asendorf, was pronounced dead at the scene. </p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/homeless-drifter-accused-killing-barnes-noble-christmas-shopper-blamed-fight-flight-outburst-report" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>HOMELESS DRIFTER ACCUSED OF KILLING BARNES &amp; NOBLE CHRISTMAS SHOPPER BLAMED ‘FIGHT OR FLIGHT’ OUTBURST: REPORT</strong></a></p><p>Witnesses later <a href="https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/man-arrested-in-connection-with-death-of-woman-found-on-hollywood-beach-police/3743962/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><u>told NBC Miami</u></a> the body was wrapped in a white blanket and had blood trailing from the remains.</p><p>Officials did not release details regarding Asendorf’s cause of death, but previously stated that <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/homicide" rel="noopener" target="_blank">foul play was suspected</a>. </p><p>Additionally, detectives believe McCray and Asendorf knew each other prior to the alleged murder, <a href="https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/27-year-old-man-arrested-in-connection-with-death-of-woman-found-on-hollywood-beach/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><u>according to</u></a> WSVN.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-violent-criminal-history-parole-allegedly-stabs-teen-death-officials" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong><u>MAN WITH VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORY ON PAROLE ALLEGEDLY STABS TEEN TO DEATH: OFFICIALS</u></strong></a></p><p>"This case remains an active criminal investigation," <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/police-and-law-enforcement" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hollywood police</a> said in a news release. "There is no indication of a broader threat to the community."</p><p>McCray was previously charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2023 after allegedly brandishing a gun at a tow truck driver as his vehicle was being repossessed, according to NBC Miami.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-violent-criminal-history-parole-allegedly-stabs-teen-death-officials" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong><u>MAN WITH VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORY ON PAROLE ALLEGEDLY STABS TEEN TO DEATH: OFFICIALS </u></strong></a></p><p>He was taken into custody at his nearby home and booked into the Broward County Main Jail on $770,000 bond, WPLG reported. </p><p><a href="https://foxnews.onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP</strong></a></p><p>The Hollywood Police Department and McCray’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.</p>