State releases thousands of photos connected to Seminole Heights murders

The State Attorney's Office released thousands of never-before-seen photos in the case against the accused Seminole Heights serial killer.

The cold-blooded murders last year puzzled investigators for six weeks. Tampa police say the break in the case came after Howell "Trai" Donaldson gave his manager at the McDonald’s in Ybor a salad bag to hold while he went to get money to buy a one-way plane ticket.

"Before he left the store he was like, 'I got something for you to hold for me, promise, I’ll contact you later and I’ll tell you what to do afterwards,'" Delonda Walker told investigators.

Inside that plastic bag was the .40-caliber Glock handgun officials say was used to shoot and kill Benjamin Mitchell, Monica Hoffa, Anthony Naiboa, and Ronald Felton.

For the first time, we're seeing the weapon and the bullets it was loaded with. The images are among nearly 2,000 pictures made public Monday. Photos of the casings found at all four crime scenes match the ammunition in the handgun.

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Near the crime scene of the fourth murder, investigators discovered multiple handwritten notes. The pages are hard to read, but appear to contain scripture passages. The phrase 'What will you say when God ask you why' is repeated multiple times.

More key evidence in the case against Donaldson was found when investigators searched his 1995 Mustang. Images show there were belongings all over the car, as well as a suitcase and bags in the trunk. That's where detectives found clothing similar to those worn by the suspect in surveillance footage, and a sweatshirt that appeared to have a blood stain.

Just last week, a judge ruled Donaldson is competent to stand trial. The 25-year-old is facing four counts of first-degree murder, and a possible death sentence if he is found guilty.

Donaldson is set to be in court again at the end of October.