Her dissappearance led to a desperate search that lasted a week and stretched across four counties in central Florida.
Tragically, her decomposing body was eventually found in a storage unit rented by her estranged husband, Cory Hill.
Let's get into the details of what happened and how she eneded up there.
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| Shakeira Rucker |
Background of the Case: The Lives Before the Tragedy
Before her tragic death, 37-year-old Shakeira Rucker was a devoted mother of four who lived in Winter Springs, Florida.
She was known in her community as a kind-hearted woman who cherished her family and her faith.
Friends and relatives described her as someone who enjoyed going to church regularly.
Her children were between the ages 7 - 18, and those who knew her said she worked hard to provide stability for them.
Her social media posts showed how much she loved her kids and she often posted about celebrations, school events, and family time.
She was trying to build a peaceful and independent life after separating from her estranged husband, Cory Hill.
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| Shakeira Rucker |
Cory Hill, who is originally from Virginia, had a much darker past and was the complete opposite of Shakeira.
According to WESH News, Hill had spent two decades in prison for a 1992 murder.
He reportedly killed a man who stole his car and threw his toddler daughter out of the stolen vehicle (though she survived).
Cory Hill later tracked down the suspect after the robbery and shot him dead.
After being released in 2005, Hill moved to Florida, where he later met and married Shakeira Rucker.
However by 2023, their marriage had seriously deteriorated.
Rucker's friends later shared that she had found out Hill was cheating, which led to tension between them.
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Shakeira Rucker's Sudden Disappearance
On the evening of November 11, 2023, Shakeira Rucker was last seen leaving her home in Winter Springs, Florida, with her estranged husband.
When she failed to return home or contact her family, they reported her missing to the Winter Springs Police Department.
What followed was an intensive weeklong search across four counties in central Florida, as reported by USA Today.
Police Chief Matthew Tracht confirmed at a news conference that Rucker "had left with Mr. Hill and went down to the Davenport area of Polk County."
The search ended tragically on November 18, 2023, after someone reported a strong smell coming from a storage unit in Apopka.
When the officers arrived, they found Rucker's decomposing body inside.
Also, the storage unit was registered to Cory Hill, Shakeira’s estranged husband, making him the main suspect in her murder.
However, it wasn’t hard for detectives to find Cory Hill — he had already been in custody since November 12, 2023.
He was arrested the day after Rucker's disappearance for allegedly shooting at his ex-girlfriend and her family in a separate incident.
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| Shakeira Rucker |
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| Picture of Cory Hill and Shakeira on the day she was murdered |
What Police Believe Happened the Day Shakeira Rucker Disappeared
According to police reports, trouble began when Cory Hill’s then-girlfriend contacted his estranged wife about his erratic behavior.
Hill allegedly became furious when he found out and threatened his ex-girlfriend, saying she "would regret making that call."
On the evening of November 11, 2023, Hill picked up Rucker from her home and drove her to the storage unit he had rented in Apopka.
Surveillance footage showed them entering the storage unit together, but only Hill came out a few minutes later.
Criminal investigators believe that Hill fatally shot Shakeira inside the storage unit.
He then locked up the unit with her body still inside, and walked away as if nothing had happened.
After leaving the storage unit, Hill’s rampage continued.
The following day, he drove to his ex-girlfriend’s home and opened fire on her and her family while they were outside.
According to police reports, Hill shot at his ex-girlfriend and her cousin before forcing his way inside the house by kicking in a kitchen window.
When he couldn’t find her, he fled the scene but was taken into custody by authorities later that night.
Despite being in jail, Hill refused to tell investigators about Rucker’s whereabouts, even though the storage unit was registered in his name.
Thankfully, Hill’s neighbor at the storage unit noticed a strange smell and reported to the local police department.
This report made officers to search the unit on November 18, 2023.
Tragically, they found Rucker's decomposing body, — almost a week after she was killed.
According to Sheriff John Mina, Hill’s silence made the family suffer even more.
He knew Shakeira was already dead, but still allowed the police and volunteers to spend days and resources searching for her.
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| Cory Hill |
Justice for Shakeira Rucker: Where the Case Stands Today
Cory Hill is currently in custody waiting for his trial to begin.
He has been charged with first-degree murder for killing his estranged wife and four counts of attempted murder for the shooting at his ex-girlfriend's home.
Prosecutors have built a strong case using key pieces of forensic evidence.
This includes shell casings of bullets from the storage unit matching Hill's gun, DNA connecting him to the scene, and surveillance footage tracking his movements.
Prosecutors have not publicly stated whether they'll seek capital punishment in this true crime case.
But if they do, Hill could potentially face the death penalty if convicted.
Rucker's family, especially her brother Clarence Thornton have told reporters they won't rest until justice is served.
Stay tuned to our blog or our free email newsletter for updates and more true crime stories
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
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