Orlando Police are now investigating the death of a woman whose body was found inside a downtown Orlando apartment over the weekend a homicide.

Sasha Samsudean, 27, was found dead inside her apartment at the Uptown Place Apartments Saturday night. Investigators released a surveillance photo showing Samsudean inside her apartment building about 1:45 a.m. Saturday.

Detectives say it's a homicide, but with no signs of forced entry into her apartment, the mystery isn't just who killed her and why, but how.

Homicide detectives spent all day Tuesday interviewing residents and reviewing surveillance footage from Saturday morning. 

A crime bulletin flier released by the police shows the last surveillance photo that captured 27-year-old Samsudean. She came home around 1:45 a.m.

It’s the last image of her alive, something very unsettling to Samsudean’s neighbors. 

“Because it could have happened to any of us," said Uptown Place neighbor Amber Hirschfield.

Orlando Police say she went out that night with friends.

Her friends said on Friday night she went to a downtown bar, Side Bar, to watch the Orlando City Soccer game. It’s just one mile down Orange Avenue from the bar to her apartment. Police said she made it home safe that night. 

An Orlando Police spokesperson said they have been releasing as much information as they possibly can about the chilling case.

“Actually we’ve given a lot of information. We know that she went out. We know that she walked home and we know that she made it home and that’s all we have and that’s why we’re asking for the public’s assistance in this," said Orlando Police Sgt. Wanda Ford.

Investigators released a surveillance photo showing Sasha Samsudean inside her apartment building about 1:45 a.m. Saturday. Anyone who was in the area of 911 N. Orange Ave. who either saw Samsudean or noticed anything suspicious is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477). (Orlando Police Department)

Later in the day, police said Samsudean's friends could not get a hold of her, so they reported her missing. 

When officers arrived, it took them extra time to get inside her keypad-protected door lock. There was also no sign of a forced entry. Samsudean's dead body was found inside. 

Police will not say how she died. At first her death was labeled suspicious, but now it has been labeled a homicide, putting nearby neighbors on edge.

“It’s really easy to, like, get into the building if you don’t live here," Hirschfield said. "You can just kind of walk in.”

With few clues to follow at this point, police are zeroing in on the crime scene to figure out who could have followed her in or was waiting for her when she got home.

“That’s why we’re really looking into Uptown Apartments and trying to figure it out, because we know that she made it inside her apartment," Sgt. Ford said. 

According to her obituary, Samsudean was born in New York, New York in 1988. She graduated from Seminole High School.  

We learned Samsudean was an active young professional, most recently working as a Media Manager for Pearson.

However, she was also known for her previous work in the Central Florida rental community. 

The Apartment Association of Greater Orlando left a somber note on their Facebook page as a tribute to the young professional they recently named Account Executive of the Year:

"Our association family was saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Sasha Samsudean this weekend. Sasha was one of a kind, a tireless volunteer, and had an awesomely infectious personality you couldn't help but admire. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sasha's family and friends during this difficult time. We will miss you, Sasha."

“Just know that homicide is still working on it. There’s some details that we have to just trust that our homicide detectives and that they're looking at everything to solve this," Sgt. Ford explained. 

Police said they have not received autopsy results yet that will determine how Samsudean was killed.

A private viewing and services for family and friends will be held Wednesday.

Anyone who was in the area of 911 N. Orange Ave. early Saturday (between 12:30 and 2:30 a.m.) who either saw Samsudean or noticed anything suspicious is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $5,000 is available in the case.


Uptown Place is located at 911 N. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando. (Amanda McKenzie, Staff)