Tampa Man Accused of Beating Woman to Death Outside Church’s Chicken, Leaving Her to Rot

Man in connection to fatal assault outside Church's Chicken in Tampa, Florida.

Tampa, FL

In a harrowing incident that has rattled the local community, 54-year-old Michael Canty now faces charges of second-degree murder in the death of 48-year-old Dawn Morrison. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to Church's Chicken at 2219 E. Fletcher Ave. just after 10 a.m. on June 18 to investigate a reported death. Officers discovered Morrison's partially decomposed body concealed under mulch near the restaurant's drive-thru.

An autopsy later confirmed that Morrison succumbed to a fatal blow to the head, with surveillance footage suggesting she was killed on June 15. Cameras from neighboring businesses captured Morrison walking with a man behind the restaurant shortly before midnight. Although the footage did not show the murder itself, it recorded distressing audio of a woman shouting "quit it, quit it" and “help."

Further video evidence revealed the man leaving the area, changing his shirt, and discarding items into a dumpster. After police distributed a photo of the suspect from the footage, a man matching the description was located a few blocks away on June 20 and subsequently identified as Michael Canty. Investigators noted that he wore the same pants, boots, and a New England Patriots drawstring bag.

Canty initially denied being with Morrison since the previous day, but he altered his story when confronted with surveillance images of them together that night. He claimed he left Morrison sitting on a curb near Church's Chicken and disposed of his shirt because it was "dirty." However, a search warrant executed on his property led to the discovery of his pants and boots, which contained blood samples that matched both his and Morrison's DNA.

Records indicate that Canty has a history of prior arrests, including charges related to failing to report as a sex offender. During a post-Miranda interview, he repeatedly denied having been at Church's Chicken with Morrison, though he later suggested he might not remember clearly. He continued to deny any involvement in her death and could not explain why her blood was present on his clothing.

Additionally, Canty now faces a charge of tampering with evidence for discarding his shirt. He remains in custody at Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

Sheriff Chad Chronister praised the investigative team, stating, "Our detectives worked tirelessly to bring justice for Dawn Morrison. Their unwavering dedication and relentless efforts have led to this arrest, ensuring that the individual responsible will face the full consequences of his actions."