GUILTY FL - Manhunt in Tampa after 4 slayings in 5 weeks, Oct-Nov 2017 #3 *Arrest*

[SeesSeas]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/public...t-this-morning-for-contempt-hearing_165526700
Parents of Seminole Heights murder suspect in court this morning for contempt hearing

[FONT=&amp]Published: February 16, 2018
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TAMPA — For more than two months, the parents of the man police say committed four murders in Seminole Heights have refused to talk to prosecutors building a case against their son.
Today, a judge could decide if that loyalty will land them in jail.
[...]

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[SeesSeas]

UPDATE:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/public...e-arrest-found-in-contempt-of-court_165526700
Seminole Heights suspect’s parents sentenced to house arrest, found in contempt of court

[FONT=&amp]Updated: February 16, 2018 at 12:45 PM
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The parents of the suspect in four Seminole Heights murders have been put on house arrest for their continued refusal to talk to prosecutors about their son.
Judge Mark Wolfe found the parents, Howell Donaldson Jr. and Rosita Donaldson, in contempt of court at a hearing Friday and ordered the home confinement after a one-hour hearing.
[...]

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[Ibiz]

UPDATE:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/public...e-arrest-found-in-contempt-of-court_165526700
Seminole Heights suspect’s parents sentenced to house arrest, found in contempt of court

[FONT=&]Updated: February 16, 2018 at 12:45 PM
[/FONT][FONT=&]
The parents of the suspect in four Seminole Heights murders have been put on house arrest for their continued refusal to talk to prosecutors about their son.
Judge Mark Wolfe found the parents, Howell Donaldson Jr. and Rosita Donaldson, in contempt of court at a hearing Friday and ordered the home confinement after a one-hour hearing.
[...]

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Charles Rose, director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson Law School, said he understands the Donaldsons’ dilemma but their refusal to talk will create the perception they know something that would help prosecutors.

"It’s a horrible thing for a parent to be caught between your love for your child and the demands of the government," he said.

 

[SeesSeas]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts...okays-other-house-arrest-privileges_167201775
Judge says no to hair classes for parents of Seminole Heights murder defendant, okays other house arrest privileges

Published: April 11, 2018
Updated: April 11, 2018 at 11:42 AM

TAMPA — The parents of the man accused of four murders last year in southeast Seminole Heights will be allowed to drive their younger son to school and meet with attorneys while on house arrest.

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

New court documents show the defense believes Donaldson may be unfit to stand trial and may need treatment at a state hospital. A hearing is scheduled on Wednesday morning where two doctors will be assigned to evaluate Donaldson.

http://www.fox13news.com/news/local...ghts-killer-may-be-incompetent-to-stand-trial

 

[x_files]

New court documents show the defense believes Donaldson may be unfit to stand trial and may need treatment at a state hospital. A hearing is scheduled on Wednesday morning where two doctors will be assigned to evaluate Donaldson.

http://www.fox13news.com/news/local...ghts-killer-may-be-incompetent-to-stand-trial

I wonder what his mental state is?

 

[SeesSeas]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts...hes-on-suspect-s-phone-warrant-says_167730262
‘Seminole Heights killer’ came up in Google searches on suspect’s phone, warrant says
[FONT=&amp]Updated: [/FONT][FONT=&amp]April 27, 2018 at 05:53 PM[/FONT]
[...]
The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office released the affidavit Friday, along with inventories of data and other evidence seized as part of the investigation.
The documents include several other revelations:
• An agent with the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent a text message to Donaldson on Nov. 1, in the midst of the killings, asking him about his purchase of a Glock .40-caliber handgun weeks earlier from a Shooter’s World store. The text went unanswered, the affidavit says.
• Donaldson’s phone recorded multiple visits to specific web sites a few hours after each of the first three shootings. The names of those web sites have been redacted from the affidavit at the request of Donaldson’s defense attorneys.
• On the day of his arrest, Donaldson’s phone recorded web searches and other activity related to airplane flights.
[...]

 

[SeesSeas]

Competency hearing 05/31/2018
http://pubrec10.hillsclerk.com/Unsecured/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=8701634

Case No. 17-CF-017252-A​

STATE OF FLORIDA VS DONALDSON, HOWELL EMANUEL, III

04/25/2018 MOTION Doc ID# 263.000
DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR EXAMINATION TO DETERMINE COMPETENCY TO PROCEED (MENTAL ILLNESS)-GRANTED
04/25/2018 DOCTOR APPOINTED Doc ID# 264.000
DR. RICHARD CARPENTER APPOINTED TO EVALUATE DEF FOR COMPETENCY (RETURN DATE 5/29/18- DO NOT SET!)
04/25/2018 LEAVE DATE PREVIOUSLY SET Doc ID# 265.000
DISPO 6/12/18
04/25/2018 COURT DOCKET PAGE Doc ID# 266.000
05/03/2018 DOCTORS REPORTS RECEIVED Doc ID# 267.000
RICHARD A. CARPENTER, Ph.D.
05/16/2018 OBJECTION Doc ID# 268.000
DEFTS TO RELEASE OF CETAIN DISCOVERY MATERIALS (AUDIO FILES)
05/16/2018 OBJECTION Doc ID# 269.000
TO RELEASE OF CERTAIN DISCOVERY MATERIALS (Donaldson Discovery Pages 1-1329)
05/31/2018 COMPETENCY (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wolfe, Mark)
06/12/2018 DISPOSITION (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wolfe, Mark)

 

[SeesSeas]

Competency report due on accused gunman
Mental competency report due on accused Seminole Heights gunman
May 29, 2018 @12:08 PM
TAMPA, Fla. -- A psychiatric evaluation is due back Tuesday for the man accused of shooting and killing four people in Seminole Heights last fall.
[...]
A competency hearing has been scheduled for Thursday.

 

[SeesSeas]

Competency hearing postponed for Seminole Heights murder suspect
Competency hearing postponed for Seminole Heights murder suspect
Published: May 31, 2018
Updated: May 31, 2018 at 09:23 AM

TAMPA — A judge on Thursday morning postponed a scheduled competency hearing for the man accused of four murders last year in Tampa’s southeast Seminole Heights neighborhood.

Lawyers for Emanuel Donaldson III told Hillsborough Circuit Judge Mark Wolfe they would like a doctor to testify about competency issues.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 29.
[...]

 

[LotusPawprint]

"Howell Donaldson III killed people and then soon after visited an adult-themed website, according to newly released investigative reports in the trial of the man accused of four Seminole Heights murders.

“In summary, Howell Donaldson showed a pattern of visiting this adult-themed website after committing three homicides,” the warrant said.

Donaldson began visiting the website on Oct. 5, the record said.

It was a period of intense activity in his life.

On Oct. 3, the day his on-again, off-again girlfriend began a new job, Donaldson went to Shooter’s World and bought a .42-caliber Glock 27 handgun, records show.

He picked it up the morning of Oct. 7 after passing a background check. He also bought a 20-round box of ammunition."




First murder, then , reports allege of Howell Donaldson III

 

[dotr]

Audio in link.
Tape of interview with Seminole Heights murder suspect released
Tape of interview with Seminole Heights murder suspect released
"June 8, 2018
Seminole Heights murder suspect Howell Donaldson III told Tampa police he handed a bag containing a gun to his McDonald's manager to keep it away from his younger brother.

An interview between Donaldson and police was part of evidence released to the public on Friday. He was arrested Nov. 28.

He told he got the gun from a gun store, but he didn't have a concealed weapons permit.

He said he was going back to St. John's University, where he hoped to play basketball, and didn't want to leave the gun at home where his younger brother might find it."

"He told police he was going to go to Amscot, then come back and tell Walker what to do with the gun. He wanted her to store it, he said, not get rid of it because he had bought it with his "hard-earned money."

Donaldson and one of the detectives discussed firearms at some length, including what kind of guns police carry, and the suspect compliments the detective on his knowledge."

 

[2Hope4]

Hmm, not sure his mental problems can be fixed, and no I don't believe he is insane.

 

[margarita25]

Thanks everyone for the updates.

 

[SeesSeas]

Police release dramatic interview with Seminole Heights killing suspect
Published: June 10, 2018
Updated: June 10, 2018 at 08:16 PM
[...]
"I just want to see my family right now," Donaldson said.

Nightlinger left the room, saying he needed to call the state attorney’s office.

He came back about 8:30. Donaldson had been sitting in the interview room for four hours.

The detective made sure Donaldson still knew his rights. He did, he promised.

"I want to be clear about that," Nightlinger said, taking a breath. "Because this is the gun. Okay? You murdered those people. The jacket you were wearing on the video, that we showed you, that you claimed not to be able to identify? It’s in your car. Okay? Your phone puts you right there at specific times. This is science man, this isn’t me making this s— up, this is science."

The two cops pleaded for an explanation.

"I just want to, I guess talk to my attorney, or talk to who I need to talk to," Donaldson said.

Less than four minutes later, the interview was over.
[...]

 

[dotr]

McDonald's general manager describes interaction with Howell Donaldson just before arrest
McDonald's manager describes accused Seminole Heights killer's behavior before arrest
"Walker said she got a horrible feeling when she realized a gun was in the bag and indicated she thought Donaldson, known by co-workers as "Trai," was up to no good.

"Because he walked liked the guy," Walker said, referring to surveillance video released after the killings.

"That guy that did that stupidness," she said.

During the interview, Walker also indicated how Donaldson's life seemed to be in shambles just before his arrest.

He had nowhere to stay at night and asked her if he could sleep in the lobby of the restaurant, which is open 24 hours a day, Walker said."

 

[SeesSeas]

Police tried to contact suspect prior to arrest
June 11, 2018 @6:31 PM
[....]
Howell Donaldson III's name came up as one of hundreds of recent gun owners, and on Oct. 30 a law enforcement officer stopped by his house to try and talk to him. According to the police report, he was not home.

On Nov. 1, an ATF agent following up on the lead texted Donaldson's phone. The text went unread and unanswered.
[...]

 

[2Hope4]

McDonald's general manager describes interaction with Howell Donaldson just before arrest
McDonald's manager describes accused Seminole Heights killer's behavior before arrest
"Walker said she got a horrible feeling when she realized a gun was in the bag and indicated she thought Donaldson, known by co-workers as "Trai," was up to no good.

"Because he walked liked the guy," Walker said, referring to surveillance video released after the killings.

"That guy that did that stupidness," she said.

During the interview, Walker also indicated how Donaldson's life seemed to be in shambles just before his arrest.

He had nowhere to stay at night and asked her if he could sleep in the lobby of the restaurant, which is open 24 hours a day, Walker said."

I haven't read the article yet, and probably should before replying, but here goes.... why couldn't he go home to his parent's to sleep>?!?! IMO, he wanted to be closer to the area he was targeting, or else his parents know something was up, and had forbidden him coming home. I know all parents aren't the same, but IMO, it's usually something worthy when a parent doesn't allow their child back home. Whether to teach them lesson, make them respect their rules, parents unhappy with group the kid is hanging with, or much more serious things, like domestic abuse, drug use, stealing, etc.

With the parents willing to have their own charges for NOT cooperating with police, I don't think they told him he couldn't be at home.

 

[2Hope4]

Close friends say Howell Donaldson III had hit rock bottom, was kicked out of his parents’ home and was strapped for cash during the timeframe of four murders in Seminole Heights.

Newly obtained recorded interviews between Donaldson’s friends and Tampa police reveal insight into difficulties he faced last fall.

News Channel 8 has learned that in addition to staying with a friend in Tampa, he also spent nights at a friend’s home in Pasco County.

Friends told police that Donaldson wasn’t acting like himself and was desperate for a place to stay.

They described him as “out of it” and his behavior as “weird.”

Friends did not get the impression that he was hiding from anyone. They noticed he kept many of his belongings in plastic bags inside his car as he went back and forth between friends.

New Evidence: Accused Seminole Heights killer had ‘no place to live,' asked friend about gun

So his friends are also saying he told them he had no place to stay, that his parents kicked him out. Maybe the parents are feeling guilt for not getting to the bottom of what was going on with him? Childhood friends say he just wasn't himself. His ex gf let him stay at her house, even the same night the 4th victim was shot. She's lucky she wasn't a victim as well, IMO. But it begs the question, like his childhood friend asked, Why would his parents kick him out when he had just returned from NY?

 

[2Hope4]

One friend said at the end of September, Donaldson asked him where he could get a gun. The question shocked the friend who said it was out of character for Donaldson and that he had no clue where Donaldson could get a gun.

The friend asked Donaldson if he was going to rob someone and he said Donaldson only said that he was going through a lot.

Police say the first victim was found shot to death a week later in Seminole Heights.

Many friends told police that they couldn’t get Donaldson to explain what was going on but encouraged him to make things right with his family.

They told police he started showing signs of opening up just before he was arrested.

New Evidence: Accused Seminole Heights killer had ‘no place to live,' asked friend about gun