Beloved musician Gus Ormo has been found dead and “tied up with a cord” at the bottom of his swimming pool in Florida. The Venezuelan composer and pianist was reportedly found face-down in the water at his luxury home in Weston, close to Fort Lauderdale, on Friday (October 16).
Homicide investigation launched
A homicide investigation has been launched, with authorities describing the incident as “suspicious”. Police were called to the property at 9am on Friday after a 911 call alerted them to a possible drowning, with the emergency dispatcher claiming the man was “tied up”. Ormo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Footage obtained by local news network WPLG Local 10 appeared to show a length of blue cord trailing from the greenery and into the pool, though it is unclear whether that was the cord used to tie up Ormo.
Family and neighbours react
Neighbours told NBC 6: “It’s sad what happened, and it wasn’t something I expected to happen in Weston.”
Ormo’s sister Antonionieta Ormo confirmed his death to CBS News Miami, but claimed the family has no further information from authorities about the circumstances.
Authorities investigate
His body was taken to the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office to establish a cause of death, and police have not yet confirmed whether or not a crime has been committed.
A spokesperson for Broward Sheriff’s Office said: “On scene, emergency crews located an adult male submerged inside of a pool and pronounced him deceased. Detectives with BSO’s Homicide and Crime Scene Units were notified and are on scene investigating the circumstances surrounding this suspicious incident.”
Recent album release
Ormo was busy promoting his latest album, AGAPE, earlier this month, saying of the instrumental piano collection: “In a world that makes us experience emotional numbness, the album is an invitation to feel without filters or need for words. It’s my way to give back to music all it has given me.”
