A devastating tragedy has struck the Palmetto community with the shooting death of Blanca Guzman-Bartolon, a 30-year-old mother, daughter, and beloved friend. According to officials, the incident occurred late Sunday evening, September 21, 2025, when Palmetto police responded to reports of gunfire at the 1400 block of 12th Avenue West.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found Guzman-Bartolon’s body in a nearby driveway, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. According to the probable cause affidavit, Guzman-Bartolon and her boyfriend, Cilas Nain Roblero-Morales, 25, were in a disagreement, and she wanted to leave. The affidavit states that Guzman-Bartolon called a family member, who then contacted a witness. The witness, along with a second person, went to the house to pick up Guzman-Bartolon. Upon arrival, the report indicates that the witness knocked on the door, and Roblero-Morales opened it with a gun in his waistband. Guzman-Bartolon stepped outside with the witness, but Roblero-Morales slammed the door shut behind her.
The witnesses, standing about 15 yards from the front door near the vehicle, were attempting to get Guzman-Bartolon to leave with them when officials state that Roblero-Morales opened the door again, stepped onto the driveway, and began firing a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun. He fired four shots, one of which struck Guzman-Bartolon in the left side of her head, causing her death. The witnesses were able to retreat behind the vehicle.
Roblero-Morales fled the scene on foot but was apprehended about an hour and a half later after a search led by a K-9 unit and aerial support from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter. Although the weapon was not found on Roblero-Morales, he later confessed to the shooting and directed detectives to the location where he had buried the gun at the Fairgrounds.
According to the police report, Guzman-Bartolon’s 9-day-old baby, the child of both Guzman-Bartolon and Roblero-Morales, was found unharmed in a back bedroom of the home, lying on a bed.
Roblero-Morales was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. He is currently being held in the Manatee County Jail without bond.
In a new development, Border Hawk News reported on September 26, 2025, that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed a detainer on Roblero-Morales, who was identified as an illegal alien from Mexico. ICE confirmed that Roblero-Morales entered the United States on May 20, 2021, and overstayed his visa.
This is not Roblero-Morales’ first encounter with the law. According to records from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MSO), he was arrested on March 12, 2025, for driving under the influence (DUI) and driving without a valid license after he swerved across the median and into the oncoming lanes on US-41 in Palmetto. Authorities reported that his blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.124, nearly 1.5 times the legal limit. Court records indicate he pled no contest to a charge of reckless driving, with the court withholding adjudication to avoid a formal conviction. As part of the sentence, he was placed on 12 months of probation and ordered to complete a substance abuse program. However, Roblero-Morales violated his probation when he allegedly shot his girlfriend.
During his first appearance on September 22nd, Cilas Nain Roblero-Morales was represented by the public defender, communicated through an interpreter, and waived his pretrial detention hearing. His arraignment is scheduled for November 7, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Courtroom 2-A at the Manatee County Judicial Center, with Judge Teri K. Dees presiding.
In the wake of this senseless act of violence, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to assist Guzman-Bartolon’s family with funeral expenses and to support her newborn child during this incredibly difficult time.
A friend of Guzman-Bartolon’s shared, “Blanca was the sweetest person, but unfortunately, she chose to be with someone who was abusive.”
If you wish to help, you can donate directly to the fundraiser here: https://gofund.me/1cd95a57d
If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence, help is available!
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)
- Florida Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-500-1119
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV): www.ncadv.org
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for confidential support.
Cilas Nain Roblero-Morales arrest PCA 92125
