In a disturbing event last summer, a woman was found dead near a Church’s Chicken restaurant in Tampa, Florida. The suspect, Michael Canty, 54, is now facing second-degree murder charges related to the death of Dawn Morrison, 48. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were summoned to the fast-food establishment on E. Fletcher Ave. on the morning of June 18 to investigate a death. Morrison’s body, in an advanced state of decomposition, was discovered hidden under mulch near the restaurant’s drive-thru lane.
An autopsy determined that Morrison had succumbed to a head injury. Surveillance footage indicated that she had likely died on June 15, according to a motion for pretrial detention. Multiple videos from surrounding businesses captured images of Morrison and a man, later identified as Canty, walking together behind the restaurant shortly before midnight. While the actual murder was not captured on camera, the surveillance footage did record a woman’s voice shouting “quit it, quit it” and “help.” The man was then seen leaving the area, changing his shirt, and discarding items in a dumpster.
Police released a photo of the man from the surveillance footage, and an officer identified a man matching the description a few blocks from the crime scene on June 20. The suspect was identified as Canty. Detectives noted that Canty was wearing the same pants and boots seen in the surveillance footage and was carrying a New England Patriots drawstring bag. Initially, Canty denied having seen Morrison since the day before her murder. However, when confronted with the surveillance images showing him with Morrison on the night of her death, he altered his account.
Canty was taken into custody for possession of an open container of alcohol, and a search warrant was obtained to examine his pants and boots. The Florida Department of Corrections crime lab tested the blood found on his clothing, which matched both Canty and Morrison. Canty was also arrested for failing to report as a sex offender in October and again on February 6.
During an interview with detectives, Canty continued to deny accompanying Morrison to the Church’s Chicken restaurant. When shown the video of him near the restaurant, he conceded it was possible he had been there but claimed he did not remember. Canty denied murdering Morrison and could not explain why her blood was found on his pants.
In addition to the murder charge, Canty is also facing a charge of tampering with evidence for disposing of his shirt. He is currently being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond. “Our detectives worked tirelessly to bring justice for Dawn Morrison,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Their dedication and relentless investigative efforts led to this arrest, ensuring that the individual responsible faces the consequences of their actions.”