FL: Woman murdered by deputies feared return of burglar

A Pompano Beach woman killed by deputies in a drug raid kept a pistol by her bed because she feared the man charged with burglarizing her home two months earlier. "I am sleeping with a gun next to my pillow every night," Brenda Van Zwieten said during a court hearing less than 24 hours before Broward Sheriff's Office SWAT team members burst into her home early Saturday morning and shot her when she pointed a .357-caliber revolver at them.

Van Zwieten, 52, was testifying in the case of Cory Frost, who was charged with breaking into her home at 301 SW 18th Court on Dec. 31 and stealing a small safe containing her dead son's jewelry. The hearing was called by Assistant State Attorney Kathleen Mager, who sought to revoke Frost's bond because he had threatened Van Zwieten online.

Van Zwieten said she had suffered a "semi-stroke," was hospitalized, and contracted pneumonia and bronchitis after son Zachary, 17, died in a car crash last October. Another of her four sons, Brian, died in 2007 from a drug overdose, family members said.

On New Year's Eve, Van Zwieten testified, a friend brought her chicken broth and left the door unlocked. Frost, she testified, then burst into her home, knocked her down and stole the jewelry. Frost has been charged with burglary, theft and battery. He was released on $5,500 bond.

After the burglary, Van Zwieten testified, Frost threatened her online via her Facebook page and walked by her house. "I don't feel safe," she said. "I have a heart condition."

At subsequent hearings after the weekend shooting, Frost denied threatening Van Zwieten and said he was out of town from early March until the Monday after the Saturday morning shooting.

However Sheriff's Office Detective Brett Forsberg testified Van Zwieten forwarded to him three e-mailed threats she received from Frost. One of them read in part, "Bitch, don't lie in court," Forsberg said.

Circuit Judge Carlos Rodriguez then found Frost in contempt of court for lying on the witness stand and sentenced him to a year in jail. The burglary case against him is pending.

Sheriff's officials said Van Zwieten's house was raided hours after two drug defendants said they bought oxycodone and marijuana directly from her. Deputies said they loudly announced themselves before bursting into the house. [Believe that and you'd believe anything. They like to have surprise on their side] Van Zwieten's boyfriend, Gary Nunnemacher, surrendered along with a pit bull.

Original report here



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