9 Investigates

8 years later, family seeks answers after woman found burned, buried under furniture

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates discovered a civil lawsuit stemming from the unsolved murder of an Orange County woman includes details that could help authorities find the woman’s killer.

Shantia Staffine was 22 years old when her body was found badly burned and buried underneath furniture in her Orange County apartment in 2008.

Deputies said someone slit her throat and set her body on fire.

“She was my best friend,” said her sister, April Staffine.

Orange County firefighters said they were wrapping up another call when they spotted smoke coming from her unit at the Hidden Cove apartment complex.

Initially, they didn’t know Staffine’s body was inside because it was covered with furniture. Her boyfriend's body was also found buried next to Staffine, deputies said. Both were badly burned.

“It's hard to know that somebody will do your own blood like that. She was a good person,” said Latrina Staffine, her other sister.

This week, the family settled a civil lawsuit against Lane Florida, the owner of Hidden Cove. The family attorney argued through six different counts in the lawsuit that the company failed to provide a reasonably safe premises.

Meanwhile, family members said they are frustrated with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, because no one has been arrested.

“They've changed detectives three times, and no one has contacted us to let us know, ‘We're the new detective on the case. We're going to pursue this, and this is how we're going to do it,’” April Staffine said.

9 Investigates’ Daralene Jones listened to hours of depositions in the civil lawsuit and reviewed transcripts in the case. There was no sign of forced entry at Staffine's apartment, and during those same depositions, the family’s attorney, Tyrone King, said he uncovered several leads that he turned over to the sheriff's office, hoping to re-invigorate the criminal case.

“If it's your job to investigate crimes and someone gives you the lead, investigate it. So as an answer, I have no idea why they wouldn't do this,” said King said.

That's all the family is asking. This week, 9 Investigates reached out to the sheriff's office with questions about the case.

A spokesperson told 9 Investigates over the phone -- the case is still active and confirmed the detective received new information from the civil attorney.

What they won't say is whether it has prompted any changes in the 8-year-old investigation. They’re only saying that interviews continue.

The family believes they've been sitting on the new information long enough.

“It's time for them to do something about it,” April Staffine said. “We want closure”

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office also told us Staffine's murder was featured, along with others, during a showcase of unsolved cases back in 2012. Anyone with information about the case can still contact Crimeline, and remain anonymous.  An attorney for the apartment complex owner said they had no comment.