ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A woman who suffered a brain injury during a morning bike ride has died.
Investigators are asking for the community’s help after Emma Ramirez, 44, was brought to a hospital suffering from an unknown injury.
Authorities say that on June 21 at 7:05 a.m., Ramirez left the Sand Lake apartment complex off Latrec Avenue to go for a bike ride.
During her ride, she stopped at Westgate Resorts. She went inside to ask for help and to use the restroom. She was dirty and had blood on her when she arrived there, according to Deputy Christian Marrero.
After she didn't come out of the restroom, a female security officer went in and found there was blood on the stall near Ramirez so she called 911.
Ramirez was transported to Orlando Regional Hospital. While there, medical staff determined Ramirez had suffered a brain injury. That injury caused her to fall into a coma shortly after arriving. She died Tuesday night.
"Very shocking and devastated," said Oscar Fernandez, the woman's husband. "Even when you see that the person you love was in good condition and then suddenly from one thing to another, everything gets ruined."
Detectives are looking for anyone who might have seen Ramirez during her bike ride. Authorities don't know how long Ramirez might have been injured.
Marrero said deputies have had little luck in trying to locate surveillance footage from the area so they don't know if she fell off her bike, which did have minimal damage, if she was involved in a crash or if something else happened.
"We want to know what happened, that is basically where we're at. We need to know what happened, we need to know if anybody saw anything, if anybody heard anything. Like I said, we have Crimeline, you can remain 100% anonymous -- 1-800-423-TIPS -- and we just want all the information we can receive," Marrero said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office released a statement Wednesday saying,
"Sadly, we were informed this morning that Emma Ramirez passed away last night (Tuesday)."
Investigators say there's one roadblock that's making this case especially difficult.
"The major intersections in that area don’t have video surveillance, at least not that records, so we need help at this point," Marrero said.
Fernandez said that he's unaware of his wife having any medical issues.
"If somebody saw the accident so they can clarify everything and see what happened with my wife," Fernandez said.
Investigators said whatever happened to Ramirez doesn't appear to have happened at the Westgate Resort.
If anyone saw Ramirez or has any information on how she may have been hurt, they are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 407-254-7000, extension 70633.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help Ramirez's family.