Rosa Maria Kramer, a 47-year-old white woman from Pensacola, Florida, had recently separated from her husband of many years. In early July 2024, she left their shared home and moved in with her father, whom she helped care for. Two weeks later, on the morning of July 23, Rosa went back to the house on Hillcrest Avenue to gather some of her belongings. She specifically wanted to retrieve her birth certificate and cherished mementos of her late mother, including a bowl and a photo album.
She timed her visit for around 6 a.m., believing her estranged husband, Timothy Kramer, would still be at his overnight job.
Unbeknownst to Rosa, her husband had returned from work early. He allegedly parked his truck behind a privacy fence so she would not see it when she arrived. Later that day, after Rosa failed to return to her father’s home, she was reported missing. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert and began a search. Around midnight, deputies went to the Hillcrest Avenue residence to investigate and made a tragic discovery. Rosa’s body was found inside the home; she had been shot four times. The family dog was also found with a gunshot wound but survived after receiving veterinary treatment.
The investigation immediately focused on Rosa’s husband. Authorities tracked Timothy Kramer to Milton, a city in the neighboring Santa Rosa County. He was located by the Milton Police Department and arrested the following morning, on July 24. He was initially booked into the Santa Rosa County jail before being extradited to Escambia County to face charges.
In August 2024, an Escambia County Grand Jury indicted Timothy Joseph Kramer, then 51, on charges of first-degree premeditated murder and aggravated animal cruelty. He was held in the Escambia County Jail without bond. Kramer pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case proceeded to trial. During the trial, his defense attorney argued that Rosa had left him with no other choice. As of August 2026, the trial for the murder of Rosa Kramer was underway.
