Marie Michel, a native of Haiti, was found shot to death inside the residence of her daughter located on Sandpine Trail in Winter Haven, Florida. On December 5, 2003, the victim arrived in Polk County to visit her daughter and daughter's boyfriend. She planned to stay two weeks before returning home.

Ms. Michel was last seen alive at 10:40 a.m. when she was left to babysit her granddaughter while her daughter ran errands. When the victim's daughter returned home at 12:15 p.m., she found her mother shot once in the head and her daughter was locked in a bedroom, unharmed.

There were no signs of forced entry into the residence and nothing appeared to have been taken.