A man has been charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman whose body was found on the beach in Hollywood last week.

But at least so far, Brandon Ward McCray, 28, has not been charged with homicide in the death of Heather Asendorf, 56, called “Barbie” by those who knew her for her colorful style. Her body was discovered by a passerby on the beach near Cleveland Street about 7 a.m. Dec. 26.

McCray was arrested on Tuesday and is facing two counts of sexual assault on a victim over 12 years in age, one count of kidnapping, one count of battery by strangulation and one count of simple battery, according to court records. Police did not publicly connect McCray’s arrest to Asendorf until Monday morning.

The day after Asendorf’s body was discovered, police announced that they had identified a person of interest and that “the parties involved are known to one another.” McCray’s arrest was in court records, but no officials confirmed the connection at that time.

Asendorf was staying at a hotel about a block away from where her body was found, long-time friend Steve Sarsfield, of Hallandale Beach, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel late Monday. She was in town from Pennsylvania, where she was originally from, and planned to visit for a few weeks with old friends from her past years living in Hollywood.

She could often be found at the Hollywood Beach Bandshell dancing when she was in town, wearing blonde wigs and a wardrobe that looked like “Rainbow Brite and Barbie mixed together,” Sarsfield, a friend of 25 years, said. It was where he last saw her, two nights before her death.

Some who knew Asendorf surmised it was her body that was found based on a sparkly backpack that was found on the sand.

“She was a really sweet girl. Everybody really liked her. She did her own dance,” he said.

McCray is also currently facing charges of aggravated assault following an incident in 2023 in which he shot a gun during an altercation with workers attempting to tow away and repossess his car, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Police had arrested him on Dec. 18, a week prior to the discovery of the body, on an outstanding warrant stemming from charges of disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer in 2023, court records show. He had posted bond the next day.

McCray had his first appearance on the sexual assault charges last Wednesday. A judge set his bond at $770,000 with GPS monitoring. He remains in the Broward Main Jail.

Staff writer Angie DiMichele contributed to this report.