REMEMBER Sherri
PHOTOGRAPH NOT AVAILABLE
Sherri Lynn (Ussery) Bell
47 YEARS OLD ·
North Naples,
Florida
Sherri Bell was a 47-year-old woman who lived in North Naples, Florida. She was remembered by loved ones as honest, carefree, and someone who valued her relationships with family and friends. In December 2007, Sherri was managing financial difficulties within her marriage and had been spending more time with family while considering divorce. She was killed at her home during the night of December 8–9, 2007.
Sherri Bell lived in North Naples, Florida, where she shared a home with her husband.
A family member described her as an honest and carefree person who valued her relationships with those close to her.
Sherri had been involved in the family's financial affairs and previously received a weekly salary through her husband's paving business.
In the weeks before her death, she was working to address outstanding household expenses and financial difficulties. She arranged to sell a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette to raise money toward bills.
Sherri had been spending increasing amounts of time with family during this period.
Loved ones remembered her personality, honesty, and the connections she maintained with the people around her.
THE RECORD
During the night of December 8–9, 2007, Sherri Bell, 47, was killed at her home in North Naples, Florida.
According to a Collier County Sheriff's Office investigation described in contemporary reporting, Sherri and her husband, Rick Bell, 48, had been experiencing marital and financial disagreements and had discussed divorce.
On December 8, Sherri arranged to have the couple's 1967 Chevrolet Corvette removed from the property and listed for sale.
She spent part of that evening visiting family before returning home.
Investigators believed Rick returned to the residence around midnight.
Sherri was later found deceased on the kitchen floor with a plastic bag over her head and a nylon rope secured around her neck.
Investigators also documented swelling around her right eye, consistent with a possible blow to the face.
Following her death, Rick reportedly set fire to the property's barn and garage using gasoline and hay to spread the flames.
Firefighters responding to the early morning fire discovered Sherri inside the residence.
Rick was found deceased from carbon monoxide poisoning inside a running vehicle in the attached garage.
Investigators concluded that Rick killed Sherri before taking his own life.
RELATIONSHIP CONTEXT
Husband
Sherri Bell was married to Rick Bell at the time of her death.
According to a Collier County Sheriff's Office investigation described in the supplied reporting, the couple had been arguing about finances and had discussed divorce.
A family member told investigators that Rick had stopped providing Sherri with her weekly salary from his paving business, restricting her access to household finances.
Investigators also documented a reported argument after Sherri withdrew money from a joint account to pay credit card bills.
In the weeks before her death, Sherri spent increasing amounts of time with family. A relative described her as visibly stressed and anxious.
On December 8, 2007, Sherri arranged to sell the couple's Corvette to help pay outstanding bills. She told a family member that she intended to inform Rick about the sale and hoped they could resolve the situation.
She also reportedly said she would lock herself in a bedroom if she felt threatened.
The investigation documented financial conflict, reported financial restriction, marital separation discussions, and Sherri's expressed concern about her safety.
PATTERNS DOCUMENTED IN AVAILABLE RECORDS
These indicators reflect what could be established from available sources. Absence from this list does not establish that a behavior did not occur.
LEGAL / SYSTEM RESPONSE
On December 9, 2007, at approximately 5:50 a.m., Collier County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a fire at a property in North Naples.
Deputies discovered Sherri and Rick Bell deceased.
Investigators observed evidence of a struggle inside the home and initially classified the incident as an apparent murder-suicide and arson.
The subsequent investigation documented Sherri's injuries, the circumstances of her death, evidence of deliberately set fires, and a written note attributed to Rick.
Investigators concluded that Rick had killed Sherri before dying from carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage.
The supplied reporting does not establish any previous domestic violence arrests, protective orders, or law enforcement responses involving the couple.
SOURCES
INFORMATION LIMITATIONS
Sherri's exact date of birth has not been verified.
Her full name appears as Sherri L. Bell in the sheriff's initial release; her middle name has not been established.
The precise time of her death during the night of December 8–9 remains unknown.
The later investigative account describes asphyxiation-related evidence, but a final medical examiner's determination has not been independently reviewed.
The reported financial restrictions are supported by family and witness statements described in the investigation. The full financial records have not been independently reviewed.
The available sources do not establish previous physical assaults, stalking, strangulation, or protective orders.
TRANSPARENCY / RECORD NOTE
The Collier County Sheriff's Office issued an initial news release on December 9, 2007, identifying Sherri L. Bell, 47, and Ricky Lane Bell, 48, and describing the incident as an apparent murder-suicide and arson.
A later investigative account supplied for this archive describes financial disagreements, discussions about divorce, restricted access to household money, and Sherri's efforts to sell a vehicle to pay bills.
The reporting includes differing accounts of the couple's financial situation. A relative described substantial debt and financial restriction, while Rick's adult son disputed that the couple was behind on their financial obligations.
The investigation also documented a note attributed to Rick in which he expressed concerns about losing property and assets through the marriage's dissolution.
Rick's published obituary discusses his business activities, community involvement, and family relationships. It does not address the homicide investigation.
REMEMBER Sherri.
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