ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orange County grand jury has formally indicted Cory Hill, 51, for First Degree Murder. Hill is charged in the shooting death of his estranged wife Shakeira Rucker, 37. The State has also filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Hill for Rucker’s murder.   

Ms. Rucker was reported missing out of Winter Springs, Fla. by her family in November 2023. Orange County sheriff’s deputies discovered her body a week later in a storage unit in Apopka. Hill became a suspect in Rucker’s murder and was subsequently charged with her homicide.

The State presented sufficient evidence to a grand jury to secure a First Degree Murder indictment against Hill. 

The decision to seek the death penalty in this case is based on two statutory aggravators including the cold, calculating method of the homicide and Mr. Hill’s prior violent conviction for second degree murder.

State Attorney Bain said he is committed to working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to get justice for Shakeira Rucker and her loved ones.

Our office acknowledges the public interest surrounding this case. However, we cannot provide further comment to protect the integrity of the case.