February 17, 2025 | By: Evan Grimm

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Trenesa Roberts was a family woman through and through. Every Sunday you could find Trenesa in the comfort of her mother’s home, surrounded by all her loved ones. For the Roberts family, the time spent during those Sunday dinners was priceless.

Trenesa has not been able to attend a Sunday dinner with her family for in over six years. On December 10, 2018, Trenesa woke up in her new home in Lehigh Acres, Florida, and got ready for another day of work, just like every other day. But as she was leaving for work, she was fatally shot outside of her home, her body left on the ground at the scene of the crime.

Trenesa Roberts had a very private life. Born and raised in the Fort Myers area, She learned from her mother, aunts, and sisters what it meant to be a strong woman in America. She was a hard-working woman who obtained her GED and constantly strived to succeed and provide for her family. As her sister Sharlonda Wilson said, “The women in our family have always been hard workers.”

Trenesa was a woman who was very focused on her professional career and family life. She never married, however, Trenesa did bring four beautiful daughters into this world. While Trenesa had plenty of friends, what was most near and dear to her heart was her family. The closest person in her world was her big sister, Sharlonda. Also surrounding Trenesa was her mother, as well as her four children and the two children of Sharlonda and her husband, Greg. Trenesa also had a chihuahua named Juvie, whom her sister Sharlonda referred to as her “son she never had.”

Trenesa Roberts worked for the Lee County School District as a bus attendant. Shortly before her death, Trenesa was working on taking her certification test to obtain her license. Trenesa strived for success and worked hard to get it. She loved shopping, especially with her sister, mom, daughters, and niece. Many days were spent at shopping malls and town centers for Trenesa and her loved ones, providing many priceless memories.

Trenesa loved to express herself with her style, and she always managed to pull off a look. “She loved her New York & Company so much,” said Sharlonda. Trenesa was a beautiful woman with a glowing smile that never failed to brighten anyone’s day.

To relax, Trenesa often went out with her girlfriends or spent time with her sister and family. Usually, Trenesa would be at her mom’s house, joking and having fun with her family. “We would be there all the time,” said Sharlonda. “Especially every Sunday we would be over there.” Trenesa loved holidays that were family-oriented, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, because it meant that she could spend time with her family members. However, for Trenesa, nothing compared to her birthday. For as long as she could remember, there was nothing more exciting than her special day.

On December 10, 2018, Trenesa Roberts woke up in her home in Lehigh Acres to get ready for the day. Lehigh Acres is a smaller area outside of Fort Myers, and Trenesa recently moved into a new home to be closer to her job. At around 4 a.m., she exited her home to leave for work only to be shot and killed seconds later. Two and a half hours after that, at 6:30 a.m., reports of a body would be called into Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and police responded to the 2000 block of Quentin Avenue South just minutes later.

After examination of the crime scene, the police determined that whoever shot Trenesa Roberts did so intentionally. Trenesa had nothing stolen from her body, and there were no signs of entry to the house or an attempt to take her car. Trenesa was a very private person, as described by her sister, so this news came as a shock to her family. “She kept to herself and didn’t get involved with nobody,” Sharlonda said. “And she has never been the type to let people come to her house.” Since Trenesa had just bought her new home weeks before her death, many of her family members never got to celebrate in the new house with her. For Sharlonda and other family members, the first time they saw Trenesa’s new home was when they got the news of what had happened. “I just remember my niece calling me saying, ‘Auntie, they found my mom dead’ and I lost it,” said Sharlonda.

Since Trenesa’s death, her family has started a new tradition each Sunday to honor her. Trenesa’s mom and other loved ones visit her grave every Sunday, visit with her, and clean off the headstone and area surrounding the grave.

Trenesa’s four daughters, now ages 21, 22, 25, and 27, carry in their mother’s footsteps by working hard to provide for themselves now that they are on their own. Her sister has even switched career paths entirely in search of bringing Trenesa’s case to a close. Sharlonda worked as a medical assistant for 19 years. She had gone through school, earned her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, and landed a job in the field of her dreams. “I had never thought about doing anything else,” said Sharlonda. “That is until my sister was taken from me.”

After Trenesa’s murder, Sharlonda went back to school to be able to work in law enforcement. Soon after, Sharlonda got a job at Lee County Sheriff’s Office as a corrections clerk. Since then, she has moved her way up to working under the property and evidence unit. “I did it for her, absolutely,” said Sharlonda. “I want to see my sister’s case closed, and the person responsible brought to justice.”

Trenesa’s family still remembers her every day and makes sure others in the community do not forget about her either. Since her passing in 2018, Trenesa’s family has partnered with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers to put up four billboards over the years with text urging people to report if they know anything about her murder. Sharlonda and her mother also post on social media frequently to keep the memory of Trenesa alive. “I post everywhere,” said Sharlonda. “I just want to make sure people see her face.”

Every day that has passed since Trenesa Roberts’ death has opened a bigger void in the lives of her loved ones left behind. But that does not stop them from remembering the joy and the light that Trenesa was able to give them with the time they were able to spend with her. Trenesa will always live on through her family, who loved her so much.

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Anyone with information regarding Trenesa Roberts’ unsolved homicide is asked to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (239) -477-1000. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at (800) 780 -TIPS (8477).

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