Alexa Velez
•7/29/2026
Three months after a North Naples woman was found dead inside her home, her friends say they're still grieving and growing increasingly frustrated as they wait for answers. The Collier County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the suspicious death of 43-year-old Deena McNelis, who was found during a welfare check at her home on Mangrove Avenue in the Windward Isles community in May. Investigators have not released McNelis' cause of death, identified a suspect or announced any arrests. For Brittany Blasucci, one of McNelis' closest friends, the uncertainty has made an already painful loss even harder. "You know Deena was one of my best friends," Blasucci said through tears. "Three months later and I still can't do it." Blasucci described McNelis as someone who brought energy and laughter wherever she went. "Oh, she was a character, that's for sure. Anybody who knew Deena knew she was a character," Blasucci said. "She was full of life." McNelis leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter, along with friends who say they are determined not to let her story be forgotten. Blasucci says she has repeatedly contacted the Collier County Sheriff's Office, turning over information she believed could help detectives, including text messages, videos and other evidence. She says she has also emailed, called and driven to the sheriff's office in hopes of receiving an update. "They wanted answers from me, but they couldn't give me anything at all," Blasucci said. She says what has been most difficult is not necessarily the lack of public information, but what she describes as a lack of communication. "Everybody deserves an answer," Blasucci said. "And we're not getting anything." Gulf Coast News first reported on McNelis' death after deputies responded to a welfare check at her home. At the time, the Collier County Sheriff's Office confirmed major crimes detectives were investigating the case as a suspicious death. This week, the sheriff's office again told Gulf Coast News the investigation remains active and said no additional information can be released at this time. Investigators have not released McNelis' cause of death or announced any arrests. Another friend, Renay Montague, hopes sharing McNelis' story again could encourage someone with information to speak up. "Maybe we can spark some more interest in this," Montague said. "Maybe there's somebody out there that knows something and can now call and report it." DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
