Woman found dead in Fort Lauderdale

Victim identified as Cynthia Hardeman

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Police are investigating after a woman was found dead in her Fort Lauderdale home.

Fort Lauderdale police were called to an apartment at 418 NW 13th Ave. shortly before 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

The victim was identified as Cynthia Hardeman. Her family told Local 10's Terrell Forney they can't imagine why someone would want her dead.

"She was a well-loved person," said Erica Hines, the victim's sister. "For somebody to do this to her, it doesn't make sense.

Hardeman, 45, has been arrested on five drug charges between 1988 and 2008. She was most recently arrested in July 2014 on a prostitution charge.

But her neighbors said they only saw her good side.

"We called her the lawn lady," said Laquesta Fluellen, who lives in the neighborhood. "Because she was a sweeet heart and she loved everybody. The lady didn't do nothing but go cut grass and make money to pay her bills."

A source close to the investigation told Local 10 News that Hardeman was beaten to death.

Police are still looking for her killer.

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About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.