Accused Seminole Heights Killer Held Without Bond

TAMPA, FL - Accused Seminole Heights serial killer Howell Emanuel "Trai" Donaldson III will be held without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail until another hearing is held on Tuesday.

Donaldson, 24, made his first court appearance Thursday morning on four counts of first-degree murder.
A judge ordered that Donaldson be held without bond until a hearing can be held Tuesday to determine if a no bond status will remain until his trial. Donaldson made no statements during his court appearance.

He wore a collarless, sleeveless quilted smock that is used to prevent inmates from hurting themselves. It prevents the inmate from forming a noose from their garments.

State Attorney Andrew Warren said at a news conference Thursday that he has not made a decision on whether he will seek the death penalty in the case, saying there we many factors to consider.

“The death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst, and, generally speaking, a serial killer would qualify,” he said.

“We intend to charge the defendant with four counts of first-degree murder which requires bringing the case before the grand jury to obtain an indictment. For the community’s safety, we’re seeking that the defendant be held without bail during the trial,” Warren said.

Donaldson applied for criminal indigent status and could be represented by the public defenders office.

Donaldson is accused of gunning down Ronald Felton, an unemployed construction worker who was on his way to volunteer at a food bank; Benjamin Mitchell, 22, who was waiting at the Route 9 bus stop on 15th Street on his way to see his girlfriend; Monica Hoffa, 32, a waitress at a local IHOP; and Anthony Naiboa, a 20-year-old Middleton High School graduate who was in the neighborhood after mistakenly getting on the wrong bus after work.

On Wednesday, Police Chief Brian Dugan said he wanted to assure everyone that "this is the man who did this." Donaldson has not confessed to the shootings. Police do not have a motive in the case. "He did not tell us why he was doing this," the police chief said.

Dugan said police have not found a connection between Donaldson and the Seminole Heights neighborhood. "We don't know why he picked Southeast Seminole Heights," he said.

Police have detailed the evidence against Donaldson in an arrest report. Dugan says a gun that Donaldson says belonged to him "was used in all four murders."

Donaldson left the gun in a fast-food bag with a McDonald's manager at the Ybor City restaurant where he worked. He asked the manager to hold the bag but requested she not look in it while he went to a nearby Amscot to get a payday loan. Donaldson said he planned on leaving the state.

The manager did look in the bag and showed the handgun to a Tampa police officer who by happenstance was sitting in the restaurant doing paperwork. The officer called for backup and Donaldson was stopped by police on his return to the restaurant, and taken to headquarters for questioning.

Police said he agreed to have his gun examined and his car parked in the McDonald's parking lot searched.
Officers searching Donaldson's car found clothing similar to clothes worn by the suspect in surveillance video taken the night of the first murder. The arrest report says officers also found a possible blood stain on the clothing.

FDLE officials who examined the gun said casings found at the scene of the first three murders were fired from the Glock firearm. The casings from the fourth shooting scene had previously been identified as being fired from the same gun as the first three murders. The Glock was loaded with a magazine containing five unfired rounds of SIG brand Smith and Wesson .40 caliber ammunition, the arrest report said.

Investigators later discovered Donaldson had purchased the gun on Oct. 3, then picked it up on Oct. 7. The first shooting death occurred two days later.

He also bought a 20-round box of SIG brand Smith and Wesson ammunition on Oct. 7, the arrest report said. Police found two fired SIG brand Smith and Wesson .40 caliber cartridge casings at the scene of Benjamin Mitchell's murder on Oct. 9.

Investigators who searched Donaldson's cell phone found recorded times and activities that correspond with the timing of the first three murders. Call records showed that within minutes of the first three murders Donaldson's cell phone was geographically associated with cell towers in the area.

When police showed Donaldson evidence that indicated his ties to the shootings, Donaldson requested an attorney.

Watch: Families React To Arrest Of Tampa Killer

Image via Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office; 2nd image via Tampa Police Department