Fort Lauderdale Police Reject Social Media Claims of Serial Killer

Fort Lauderdale police moved quickly this week to shut down online rumors suggesting a serial killer is operating in the city, calling the claims false and dangerous.

At a Tuesday news conference, Homicide Sgt. Don Geiger said the speculation stemmed from the recent killing of 30-year-old Daneshia Heller, whose body was discovered on Feb. 18 in the 200 block of Northwest 15th Avenue.

“I’ll start off by saying we do not have a serial killer in the city of Fort Lauderdale,” Geiger said. “There is nothing linking this homicide to any other cases.”

Police say Heller was murdered inside a vacant apartment. Investigators allege that 34-year-old Altavious Powell killed her, left her body outside, and covered it with cardboard. DNA evidence tied Powell to the crime, and he has since been arrested and charged.

Heller’s father, David Heller, spoke emotionally about his daughter, describing her as loving and deeply personal in her connections. “My daughter was somebody,” he said. “She was mine.”

Geiger warned that false online claims have escalated beyond rumor into potential harm, with posts naming unrelated vehicles, locations, and individuals as suspects.

“That’s a safety issue for innocent people and their families,” he said. “We’ve seen it grow from a single rumor into claims of multiple bodies and specific suspects that are completely untrue.”

Police urged residents to rely on verified information and to think carefully before sharing unconfirmed claims online, stressing that misinformation can create fear, damage reputations, and put lives at risk.