Inside The Investigation and Conviction of Stephen Duxbury for the M-urder of Sasha Samsudean

Sasha Samsudean, a 27-year-old woman living in an apartment complex with 24-hour security surveillance in Orlando, Florida, returned home intoxicated in the early morning of October 17, 2015, after a night out with friends.

Despite her state, she managed to enter her apartment but was then attacked by the security guard on duty, Stephen Duxbury. He bypassed the lock system on her door and śḛxually assaulted her, brutally beat her, and ultimately strangled her to dḛậth.

Image: CCTV Footage of Stephen Duxbury following Sasha(bottom)

A subsequent investigation quickly revealed that the man hired to protect Sasha had instead taken advantage of her in her most vulnerable state.

Stephen Duxbury was found guilty of all charges on November 21, 2017, and was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Inside The Investigation and Conviction of Stephen Duxbury for the M-urder of Sasha Samsudean

Born in New York City in 1988, Sasha Samsudean was an exuberant and accomplished woman whose life was cut tragically short.

Sasha worked for the educational services firm Pearson, where she managed their social media accounts. She was also a tireless volunteer with the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando, her efforts earning her the accolade of Account Executive of the Year in 2012.

Her magnetic personality made her well-liked and admired among her peers, and her untimely death sent shockwaves through her community

Sasha lived in the Uptown Place Condominiums in downtown Orlando, a mid-rise complex built in 2002. The building offered a range of amenities, including a business center, pool, concierge service, and garage parking.

The building was situated in a bustling entertainment district, providing easy access to the vibrant nightlife of Orlando.

The Night of the Crime

On October 17, 2015, Sasha enjoyed a night out with friends in downtown Orlando. As the evening wound down, she decided to head home, leaving the Attic Nightclub alone in the early morning hours.

Intoxicated and struggling to locate her apartment, she was helped by two women who she met on her journey home. They took Sasha back to her building, where she was met by the building's security guard, Stephen Duxbury.

Sasha's interactions with Duxbury raised alarms on the security footage. Despite his claims of having merely assisted Sasha at the entrance of the building, the footage suggested a different story. It showed Duxbury following Sasha around the building, acting suspiciously and contradicting his original account of the events of that night.

Discovery of the Crime and Initial Investigation

The following day, when Sasha failed to respond to calls and messages and missed a prearranged breakfast, her friends grew concerned. After finding a present meant for a baby shower in her car, they requested a police welfare check. When the officers arrived, they were greeted by a strong smell of bleach.

Inside the apartment, they discovered Sasha's body, partially clothed and wrapped in her comforter. Despite the absence of signs of forced entry, evidence suggested a violent struggle

Traces of male DNA were found in the apartment, and fingerprints were discovered underneath the toilet seat lid, indicating the presence of a male in Sasha's home.

Unraveling the Crime

Security footage revealed Duxbury's actions during the early hours of the morning. He was seen following Sasha around the building for almost 40 minutes, using his key to access several sealed doors. At 6:36 a.m., Duxbury was captured disposing of refuse bags which matched those found in Sasha's apartment.

Moreover, a search of Duxbury's home and phone revealed that he had sought information on how to override a specific type of door lock, identical to the one on Sasha's front door. Duxbury's fingerprints matched those found on the toilet seat rim and Sasha's nightstand, and the DNA found on Sasha's body was conclusively identified as Duxbury's

Traces of male DNA were found in the apartment, and fingerprints were discovered underneath the toilet seat lid, indicating the presence of a male in Sasha's home.

Unraveling the Crime

Security footage revealed Duxbury's actions during the early hours of the morning. He was seen following Sasha around the building for almost 40 minutes, using his key to access several sealed doors. At 6:36 a.m., Duxbury was captured disposing of refuse bags which matched those found in Sasha's apartment.

Moreover, a search of Duxbury's home and phone revealed that he had sought information on how to override a specific type of door lock, identical to the one on Sasha's front door. Duxbury's fingerprints matched those found on the toilet seat rim and Sasha's nightstand, and the DNA found on Sasha's body was conclusively identified as Duxbury's