Suspected Thonotosassa Killer Found In New Mexico, Indicted On 1st Degree Murder

THONOTOSASSA, FL — Trent Diggs, who is accused by police of killing his former girlfriend in Thonotosassa at her home in December, was indicted for first-degree premeditated murder Thursday by a Hillsborough County grand jury, according to a Hillsborough County State Attorney's news release.

Diggs, 29, had a domestic violence injunction when investigators found he returned to the victim's home and viciously stabbed her to death on Dec. 8 or 9., a police report said. She was stabbed at least 13 times, officials said.

A witness told authorities that she heard the victim and Diggs screaming on the phone prior to the incident. The witness heard her say, "Trent," during the argument. After not seeing her for a couple days, on Dec. 11, the witness called the victim and no one answered. When the witness walked over to her house, blood was seen inside her home through the window.

Diggs took off in the 30-year-old victim's car, a brown Chevrolet Cruze, following the accused killing. Prior to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) deputies forcing entry into the victim's home and finding her body Dec. 11, police in Decatur, Texas, pulled him over for a routine traffic stop. They were unaware he was driving a stolen vehicle because it had not been reported as theft yet.

By the time he made it to New Mexico, law enforcement agencies across the country were aware of the Thonotosassa incident per HCSO. HCSO had notified officers with the New Mexico State Police that they had tracked the Cruze Diggs was driving in their area. Police pulled him over and arrested him on unlisted charges. Authorities said he had fresh cuts to his hand when they pulled him over, and had the victim's stolen purse in the car. He also had shoes on with blood from the victim's house.

“This man terrorized and murdered his victim, then tried to slip away," Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said. "Thanks to great collaboration across law enforcement, we can now bring him to justice and hold him accountable for the life he took and the void he has created in the lives of the victim’s family and friends."

Deputies returned Diggs to Florida Tuesday night to stand trial for first-degree murder, armed burglary of a dwelling, grand theft motor vehicle and violation of a domestic violence injunction. The State has not yet said if it is pursuing the death penalty.