A rising Venezuelan music star was found dead in his own backyard pool, and investigators are treating his death as suspicious.
Gustavo Enrique Ormo, 45, the singer, composer and pianist who performed as Gus Ormo, was found face down on the morning of Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, after the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) received a report of a possible drowning around 9 a.m. at his home on Quail Roost Drive in Weston, Fla.
Deputies and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews found an adult male submerged in the pool and pronounced him dead at the scene. Homicide and Crime Scene detectives were brought in to examine circumstances the agency called suspicious.
His Mother Could Not Reach Him
A 911 call released Monday, Oct. 19, captured the moment Ormo’s brother found him. The family had been trying to reach the musician without success, and his mother grew worried, so his brother went to the house with their parents. Speaking in Spanish, the brother told the dispatcher he had arrived about 20 minutes earlier and that he believed Ormo had taken his own life and was in the pool. Asked how many people were in the water, he answered that it was only his brother.
Authorities have not confirmed a cause or manner of death. BSO said Monday, Oct. 19, that it would release nothing further while the investigation remains active, and that the medical examiner’s office will determine both.
Questions Investigators Have Not Answered
News footage from the scene showed what appeared to be a rope or cord running from the pool deck into the water. Authorities have not said what the object was or whether it had any connection to the death.
Thomas Steinkamp, chief of investigative services for the Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, wrote in an email to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that “this matter is the subject of an active criminal investigation.” His office said the review is continuing, requires further testing and study, and could take as long as 90 days to establish how and why Ormo died.
From Maracaibo Ballads to a Final Piano Album
Ormo was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and built a large social media following with his Spanish-language ballads, and songs such as “100 Suspiros” drew millions of views. He released the nine-track album “Alquimia” in 2025, then changed course in early October 2026 with “AGAPE,” a six-track instrumental piano record featuring saxophonist Ed Calle and Moto Fukushima. His last Instagram post, shared the day before he was found, promoted a project he called “AGAPE Behind the Music.”
In January 2026, at a red-carpet event in Aventura, he spoke about being happy with his career and about his Venezuelan roots. He had also written a tribute song to Venezuela built around reconciliation and unity. Public records show he had owned the Quail Roost Drive house for several years. Neighbors said he kept a low profile.
His sister, Antonieta Ormo, confirmed his death to CBS Miami on Friday, Oct. 16, saying the family knew little about what may have happened and that the days since have been painful for those closest to him.
Calle, who worked on the final album, told Miami New Times: “Gus was a beautiful person, a dear friend, and a hard-working artist pursuing his dream.” He added that he would miss Ormo’s warmth and creativity, and that the musician had been focused on sharing messages of love and peace.
Anyone in a mental health crisis can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
