A Florida widow’s disappearance has ended in a grim discovery and a life sentence for the contractor she hired, closing a case that shocked a close-knit community and spanned state lines. The body of 65-year-old Susan Malden was recovered from a Georgia landfill, her murder solved through a meticulous investigation that ๐ฎ๐๐น๐ธ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ญ a deadly dispute over home renovation work.
Susan Malden vanished from her Harbor Island home in Fleming Island, Florida, on October 24, 2019. Concern arose when her close friend, Phyllis Yates, found Maldenโs car in the garage, her television on, and her bed unmadeโa stark departure from her meticulous nature. A key clue was a chain lock still fastened inside the front door, suggesting no one had left normally.
Law enforcement quickly identified a person of interest: Cory Binderum, a local contractor Malden had hired to renovate her bathroom. Friends revealed Malden had paid Binderum over $12,000 upfront, but he had abandoned the job after minimal work. She had planned to confront him that day, demanding a refund and ๐๐ฝ๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐พ๐๐ police involvement.
Investigators discovered a disturbing scene inside Maldenโs home. Forensic analysis revealed traces of blood spatter and evidence of a cleanup, shifting the case from a missing persons investigation to a potential homicide. Binderum, the last known person to see Malden alive, initially claimed he had refunded her $1,200 and left her unharmed.
This story contradicted the financial records and Maldenโs own detailed notes, which documented the $12,000 sum and Binderum’s endless excuses. As detectives dug deeper, they learned of Binderum’s prior criminal history, including a conviction for aggravated battery with a firearm, and his recent relapse into cocaine use.
Critical evidence emerged from Binderumโs movements on the day of the disappearance. Surveillance video showed him purchasing contractor bags and quick-dry concrete at a Home Depot that morning. Data from his Life360 app, installed due to his ๐๐๐ท๐๐๐ถ๐๐ธ๐ ๐ช๐ซ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ issues, placed him at Maldenโs home and then at the Rosemary Hill transfer station landfill.
The digital trail showed he turned the tracking app off for an hour while at the landfill. Records indicated his truck weighed 300 pounds less when he left the facilityโa weight that matched Maldenโs body plus the concrete bags. A coworker, Lee Lleair, later told police Binderum had once joked that the landfill was a “perfect place to dump a body.”
Following a massive, multi-agency search of the Chesser Island Landfill in Folkston, Georgia, investigators made a heartbreaking discovery. After sifting through approximately 7,600 tons of garbage over ten days, they found a contractor bag bearing the Home Depot logo. Inside were Susan Maldenโs remains.
The medical examiner determined Malden died from blunt force trauma and strangulation, noting a fractured hyoid bone consistent with manual strangulation. DNA from fingernail clippings found with her remains contained a mixture belonging to Malden and an unknown male, though Binderum was excluded as a contributor.
Binderum was arrested while already jailed on unrelated fraud charges. At trial, the prosecution built a powerful circumstantial case, presenting a motive rooted in financial desperation and a fear of exposure. A jailhouse informant testified that Binderum confessed to hitting and strangling Malden during an argument over money.
The defense seized on the absence of Binderumโs DNA under Maldenโs fingernails, arguing it created reasonable doubt. Despite this, the jury deliberated for just four hours before finding Cory Binderum guilty of first-degree murder, burglary with ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ or battery, and tampering with evidence.
In a subsequent penalty phase, the jury recommended life imprisonment without the possibility of parole by a vote of 7-5, one vote short of the threshold required for a death sentence in Florida. The judge imposed the life sentence, finally bringing a measure of justice for Susan Malden.
โI absolutely think that we achieved justice for Susan Malden and we held Cory Binderum accountable for what he did,โ said lead investigator Captain Brad Frier. The case stands as a chilling reminder of the vulnerabilities that can exist within the most ordinary transactions, urging caution and thorough vetting of those allowed into oneโs home.