FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | [email protected]
TAMPA, FL (May 1, 2023) — The man responsible for killing four innocent people and terrorizing the Seminole Heights community in 2017 has admitted his guilt and will spend the rest of his life in prison. Howell Donaldson III pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the heinous shooting deaths of Benjamin Mitchell, Monica Hoffa, Anthony Naiboa, and Ronald Felton.
Up until today, the defendant has maintained his innocence as his attorneys argued multiple issues on appeal leading up to his trial that was set to begin in August. Instead, the defendant and his legal team approached the State Attorney’s Office with anoffer to admit his guilt to avoid the imposition of the death penalty.
“There is no question this is and always will be a death penalty case. This coward committed unspeakable acts and wreaked havoc on our community for weeks on end. He will now be locked in a prison cell for the rest of his life where he will make no more headlines. We do this with the blessing of the victims’ family members who can now move forward without a lengthy trial or appeals process. We honor Ben, Monica, Anthony, and Ronald’s memories as we close this painful chapter for their families and our community,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
“Countless hours and sleepless nights were dedicated to finding this killer and restoring peace to the Seminole Heights community he terrorized. Our Tampa Police officers conducted a monumental and exceptional investigation to ensure that this man would never have the opportunity to bring harm to another person, and this sentence ensures just that. We remain steadfast in our commitment as a police department to finding and holding accountable anyone who attempts to jeopardize the safety of our Tampa residents,” said Tampa Police Interim Chief Lee Bercaw.
“Today’s announcement can never heal the broken hearts of the families whose lives were ripped apart by this killer or the community that was terrorized for 51 days. It does however bring finality to this case. Justice for the families and the assurance that his remaining years are spent in the hell of his own making is only fitting,” said Former Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
“My daughter Monica was like a ray of sunshine with a playful spirit that is deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. While nothing will bring our beloved child back, it is a smallcomfort to know this coward will never hurt another innocent person again. I want to thank Tampa Police and the Seminole Heights community for your unwavering support during this nightmare. My faith in God will pull my family through this latest chapter in our story. We will continually reflect on Monica’s incredible zest for life as her memory lives on through the rest of us,” said Monica Hoffa’s father Kenny Hoffa.
Donaldson murdered each of his four victims in the early morning hours over the course of 51 days in the fall of 2017. Tampa Police arrested him at his place of employment, the McDonald’s restaurant in Ybor City, after he left the gun used in the crimes with one of his coworkers. Investigators compiled a mountain of evidence linking him to all four murders.
The State Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Tampa Police Department for their incredible dedication to solving these murders. We commend former Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan and Mayor Bob Buckhorn for being a constant support to members of the Seminole Heights Community who were tormented by this defendant for nearly two months. We appreciate Mayor Jane Castor’s consistent support and leadership throughout this process. The State Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the swift evidence processing that helped to build a strong case against the defendant. Our partners at the Attorney General’s Office, FBI, and Florida Highway Patrol have also played important roles in this case throughout the years. Most importantly, we thank the family members of each victim for their courage and strength through these unimaginable circumstances.