Melissa Webb

Background

Melissa Webb was a Lee County woman who later admitted to the murder of her ex-boyfriend, Bryan Sorendino.

Webb’s mother, Vivian Webb, said Melissa Webb’s life spiraled out of control as a teenager, leading to abusive relationships and an addiction to pain killers.

Sorendino’s family described him as a Navy veteran who loved sports and left behind two daughters. They said he was not violent, discounting defense claims during trial that Sorendino was abusive and that Webb killed him out of fear for her life.

The offence

Melissa Webb was convicted of shooting Bryan Sorendino to death.

After the shooting, Webb wrapped his body in a sleeping bag and dumped it in Charlotte County.

Sorendino’s body was found a month later in a wooded area off SR-31 buried under a pile of debris.

Investigation

After identification of Sorendino following discovery of his body in Charlotte County, homicide detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation.

Detectives located several witnesses who provided information leading to the identification of Melissa Webb as the suspect.

Between the time Sorendino was last seen alive and the time his body was discovered, Webb told witnesses differing stories as to his whereabouts.

Webb told at least one witness she shot and killed Sorendino.

Arrest

On September 27, 2011, a homicide suspect arrested in the Sorendino case was reported. On Monday, September 26, Melissa Christine Webb, 28, was arrested at the Lee County Jail for the murder of Bryan Sorendino.

Sufficient probable cause existed for the arrest of Melissa Webb for one count of Second Degree Murder in the death of Bryan Sorendino.

Trial

A jury found Webb guilty of shooting Bryan Sorendino to death.

The jury convicted Webb in just an hour and a half and did not buy defense claims that Sorendino was abusive and that Webb killed him out of fear for her life.

Sorendino’s aunt, Mary Ellen Saba, said:

"He was a brave and, courageous man who defended our freedom," said Sorendino's aunt, Mary Ellen Saba. "Nothing will take away the pain we feel everyday."

Sentencing

Melissa Webb admitted to the murder and apologized to the family of victim Bryan Sorendino before learning her sentence Monday.

Webb apologized in court, saying:

"I still feel guilty. I took anther human being's life. I took Bryan's life," Webb said. "I lost total control over any rational thinking that night and the days that followed."

Webb said drugs affected her decision-making at the time of the killing:

Webb also said:

"I want all of you to know I am truly sorry, and I know that's never going to be enough," Webb said. "I'm sorry."

Sorendino’s mother, Rosina McDonald, left court before Webb gave a statement, but McDonald said her apology does not bring Sorendino back.

McDonald expressed disgust with Webb’s behavior in the days between the murder and the discovery of her son’s body, noting much of what happened was not admissible during the trial. McDonald said:

"You just can't imagine the horror of what we've lived and what we've experienced," McDonald said. "I've sat through two years of hell. If emotions bleed, I don't have one ounce of blood left."

On December 16, 2013, Webb was sentenced to life in prison.

The judge was required to hand down the life sentence because of Webb’s prior felony convictions.

Timeline

• August 20 — Webb called a witness and told him she needed his help; Webb drove to the witness, picked him up, drove him back to the residence that she and Sorendino had been sharing, and told him there was a body in a sleeping bag located inside the fenced-in front entryway.
• August 24 — A witness visited Sorendino’s house after not hearing from him, encountered Webb, and Webb told the witness Sorendino had gone to Jacksonville to visit his daughter; Webb also told the witness Sorendino had sold her his 1994 Camry.
• September 26, 2011 — Melissa Christine Webb, 28, was arrested at the Lee County Jail for the murder of Bryan Sorendino.
• September 27, 2011 — An arrest was reported in the Sorendino case.
• December 16, 2013 — Melissa Webb was sentenced to life in prison.

Outcome

Webb was sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing her ex-boyfriend, Bryan Sorendino.

Aftermath

Webb’s mother, Vivian Webb, said Webb’s devastation to both families had been caused by Webb’s life spiraling out of control, abusive relationships, and addiction to pain killers. Vivian Webb said:

"My heart bleeds for them, for their family and for their loss," Vivian Webb said.

During the days between the murder and the discovery of Sorendino’s body, McDonald said she had experienced “two years of hell.”

Other details

A witness reported the sequence of events to detectives as follows.

• The witness said Webb told him there was a body in a sleeping bag located inside the fenced-in front entryway and that she needed help putting it into the trunk of her car.
• The witness said he saw the red sleeping bag exactly where Webb said it would be, backed the vehicle up to the gate, and helped Webb put Sorendino’s body into the trunk.
• The witness said Webb told him to stay at the residence until Webb returned a few hours later.
• The witness said Webb later showed him a small caliber firearm and asked him to get rid of it for her, but he refused; the firearm described to the detective was the same as the gun found to have killed Sorendino.
• The witness said while riding in the car together, Webb asked him to help her get rid of Sorendino’s vehicle.
• The witness said Webb parked the car, saying she was going to meet her mother, leaving the witness in the car; the witness said Webb never returned and never returned his calls.
• The witness said he parked the car and told detectives where it was located.

Another witness reported to detectives that Sorendino was out of character for borrowing money without returning it. That witness said he went to Sorendino’s residence, met with Webb, and that she said Sorendino had gone to Orlando to visit old friends from the Navy and would not be returning; the witness asked how Sorendino left without his vehicle, and Webb said Sorendino had purchased a new car and sold her his Camry.

Webb was reported to have told witnesses differing stories as to Sorendino’s whereabouts between when he was last seen alive and when his body was discovered.

A witness reported being called by Webb on August 20 and described driving back to the residence that she and Sorendino had been sharing. The witness reported that Webb showed him the sleeping bag and said she had shot Sorendino and that his body was in the sleeping bag.