Update: Suspect Charged With First-Degree Murder: Detectives Investigating Suspicious Death Of Ormond Beach Woman

Date Added: September 23, 2021 10:32 am

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF ORMOND BEACH WOMAN

Detectives are investigating the suspicious death of an Ormond Beach woman discovered in her bedroom Wednesday afternoon, with her boyfriend found unresponsive in the same room after a possible overdose.

The victim, 62-year-old Elizabeth Crisanti, was found dead around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday at her home at 240 Orange Grove Drive #2 after deputies conducted a well-being check.

The well-being check was requested by a relative after Crisanti didn’t pick up her grandchildren from school. When no one answered the door, a family member provided deputies a key to enter the home. Deputies made entry and found Crisanti deceased with sharp force injuries. On the bed in the same bedroom, deputies found Crisanti’s boyfriend, 61-year-old Nelson Rivera, who was alive but unresponsive. It appeared he may have overdosed on prescribed medication.

Rivera was transported to AdventHealth Hospital for medical treatment, and had not yet regained consciousness as of Thursday morning.

The investigation is active and ongoing, and additional details will be provided as they become available.

Update (9/26):

Nelson Rivera has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in the killing of Elizabeth Crisanti.

The investigation into Crisanti’s murder revealed evidence that she was fearful of Rivera, who was described as extremely controlling, and that she was planning an exit strategy from the relationship. At the scene of the murder, detectives found signs of a struggle, but no sign of any forced entry into the residence, which was locked when deputies arrived for a well-being check and found the couple inside.

A warrant was obtained for Rivera today (Sunday), and he was transported from the hospital to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he is being held without bond.