A Venezuelan singer and composer has been found dead in the swimming pool of his South Florida home, sparking a homicide investigation after authorities discovered unusual circumstances surrounding his death.
Gustavo Ormo, a pianist and singer-songwriter who performed under the name Gus Ormo, was discovered Friday morning, October 16, at his residence in the upscale Weston Hills community in Broward County.
Deputies with the Broward Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported possible drowning around 9 a.m. at a home on Quail Roost Drive.
When emergency crews arrived, they discovered an adult man submerged in the backyard swimming pool. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members, including Ormo’s sister, Antonieta, subsequently identified him as the musician, although authorities had not formally released his identity.
What initially appeared to be a possible drowning quickly developed into a suspicious death investigation.
According to the Miami Herald, emergency dispatch communications indicated that the man may have been found tied up in the pool.
News helicopter footage also showed what appeared to be a rope or cord extending from the pool deck into the water near the body.
Authorities have not confirmed whether Ormo was restrained or explained the significance of the rope.
The discovery prompted the sheriff’s office to send homicide detectives and crime scene investigators to the property.
“On scene, emergency crews located an adult male submerged inside of a pool and pronounced him deceased,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.
Investigators described the circumstances as suspicious but have not announced whether they believe a crime occurred.
The body was transported to the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will help establish the official cause and manner of death.
No suspects or arrests have been announced, and detectives have not publicly disclosed what happened before Ormo was discovered.
His sister told CBS Miami that the family had very little information about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Ormo was originally from Maracaibo, Venezuela, and had built a career as a singer, songwriter and accomplished pianist. His music combined romantic melodies with instrumental compositions, earning him an international following.
In 2025, he released the nine-track album Alquimia, followed by his latest musical project, AGAPE, a six-track instrumental collection released earlier this month.
The newer album was described as a deeply personal musical journey, with the piano taking center stage.
Ormo had also spoken publicly about his Venezuelan heritage and his desire to create music that brought people together.
In January, he attended a red-carpet event in Aventura, Florida, where he discussed his career and his connection to his home country.
In a statement promoting AGAPE, Ormo described music as a way of expressing emotions that words sometimes cannot capture.
His death came at a particularly unexpected time in his career.
Just one day before his body was discovered, Ormo shared an Instagram post promoting his latest project, AGAPE Behind the Music.
The timing has added to the shock surrounding his death, although investigators have not suggested that his recent musical activities were connected to the incident.
Public records indicate that Ormo had owned the Weston residence for several years. Neighbors described him as someone who generally kept a low profile.
Weston Hills is a gated residential community known for its golf course and upscale homes, making the police investigation an unsettling development for the neighborhood.
As detectives continue examining evidence from the property, several important questions remain unanswered, including how Ormo ended up in the swimming pool and whether another person was involved.
The presence of homicide investigators does not necessarily mean authorities have determined that a homicide occurred. Such units may investigate unexplained or suspicious deaths until the circumstances can be established.
For now, Ormo’s family and fans are awaiting answers about the sudden death of a musician who had been actively sharing new music just hours before the tragedy.
The investigation remains ongoing.