Page 39 - Florida Sentinel 8-5-22

Crime
Woman Pleads Guilty To Murder Gets 30 Years
Disturbance Ends
In Murder Investigation
4800 block of E. 99th Avenue.
Tampa Man
Indicted On
Gun, Drug
Ms. Melissa McNutt is accused of luring Justin Heilig, a stranger, to her car in Ybor City on September 30, 2018. Hillsborough County prosecutors accused her of robbing Heilig, stabbing him, shooting him, and leaving him in Hyde Park to die.
Evidence presented in court against Ms. McNutt included a Pandora bracelet, and a bloody knife with her DNA that was found at the crime scene.
Prosecutors said the victim banged on doors trying to get help until he died.
Ms. McNutt, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree mur- der and robbery with a firearm. She was sentenced to
Police are currently investi- gating a domestic disturbance that ended in a murder. The incident took place on July 18, shortly before 7:30 p.m.
According to the Tampa Po- lice Department, officers re- sponded to a disturbance in the 4800 block of E. 99th Av- enue. After meeting with all parties involved, it was deter- mined to be
civil in nature, no crime had occurred, and all parties were separated.
After the officers left the scene, they received a 9-1-1 call for service shortly after 8 p. m., but the unidentified caller would not provide details as to why they needed police.
Tampa Police officers again responded to the address, and found a victim walking away with a stab wound to his ab- domen. He initially refused medical treatment, but ulti- mately agreed to be trans- ported to the hospital for
evaluation.
The victim was able to pro-
vide police with a statement. The other involved party and possible suspect stayed on- scene, was
cooperative with police and gave a statement as well.
The State Attorney's Office was contacted that day and di- rected TPD to direct file the ag- gravated battery case to their office for review.
The Tampa Police Homicide squad was contacted after they were notified that the man had died.
The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the man’s death as a murder.
The involved party is a 72- year-old Hispanic male and his involvement is still under in- vestigation. Police have not re- leased any additional information about the individ- uals involved or their relation- ship to each other.
A Tampa man has been in- dicted on one count of conspir- acy to distribute narcotics, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute narcotics, and one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. He was also indicted on one count of carrying a firearm in the fur- therance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of pos- sessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
The indictment also notifies Dempsey Gilmore, 32, that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammu- nition recovered in this inves- tigation, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indict- ment, beginning on an un- known date, but not later than on or about February 9, 2022, Gilmore conspired with oth- ers to sell or deliver narcotics. During the conspiracy, Gilmore allegedly possessed a firearm. Gilmore has been convicted of multiple felonies to include escape and felon in possession of firearm or am- munition and is therefore pro- hibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
MELISSA MCNUTT
30 years in prison. She will also serve 10 years on proba- tion upon her release.
Charges
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