In the early morning hours of May 24, 2019, the life of 37-year-old Estella Sophia Hoggard was tragically cut short in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A patrol officer on routine duty discovered her body inside a parked vehicle near the intersection of Golden Oak Court and South Lynnhaven Road. She had been fatally shot in what police deemed a suspicious death.
Family members were overcome with grief, remembering Hoggard as a loving and God-fearing woman who was the life of every gathering.
She was described as a caring and strong individual with an ever-present smile. Her death was a devastating blow to her family, who were already mourning the recent loss of her father to cancer. She was the oldest of eleven siblings and was remembered for her supportive and uplifting nature.
The investigation into her death quickly progressed, and within a day, authorities had identified a suspect. Courtney Moreno, a 41-year-old man, was arrested in Henrico County, less than 24 hours after Hoggard was found. He was subsequently extradited back to Virginia Beach to face charges related to her death. Moreno was scheduled for an arraignment at the end of May 2019 in connection with the shooting death of Estella Sophia Hoggard.