Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in 2023 Strangulation Death at Manatee Homeless Camp
A Manatee County man has been sentenced to five years and five months in state prison for the 2023 killing of Charles Smith at a homeless camp in Bradenton.
Stephen Astbury Jr., 61, was convicted of strangling Smith and burying his body in a shallow grave at the camp located in the 3700 block of 14th Street West. The murder took place in November 2023 but was not discovered until weeks later, when Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies received a tip in December.
Deputies responded to the scene after the tipster provided details about a possible homicide. Astbury, who was living at the camp, was interviewed and taken into custody on an unrelated charge while detectives launched an investigation. A witness informed detectives that an argument between Astbury and Smith had escalated to violence. The witness led authorities to a burial site where Smith’s body was found roughly a foot underground in a bag.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the witness identified both Astbury and another man, Douglas Gray, as the individuals responsible for Smith’s death. Investigators determined that Gray allegedly restrained Smith by sitting on his legs while Astbury strangled him and stomped on his throat, causing fatal injuries including a crushed larynx and fractured ribs.
Astbury received credit for time already served and is required to provide a DNA sample for inclusion in the state’s offender database. Meanwhile, Gray is scheduled to stand trial later this year in connection with the case.
