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Search Warrant Request Details Tampa Murder Investigation

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

Updated: 11/06/2007 12:48 pm

Read The Affidavit For The Search Warrant

TAMPA - When Hillsborough County deputies entered a missing couple's Tampa condominium, they found blood on a wall, a bullet on the floor, a live shotgun shell on a counter and animal feces throughout.

An investigation helped deputies piece together that Trevor McGinty had threatened suicide to his sister and might be involved in his girlfriend's disappearance, a search warrant affidavit made available today shows.

Deputies later found the body of Wendy Dusza in a 45-gallon Rubbermaid container in a garage rented by the couple, according to the affidavit.

She had been shot once in the head, Hillsborough County deputies say.

Video evidence and a store receipt from Oct. 26 show McGinty purchased the container and duct tape wrapped around its lid, the affidavit states.

Dusza's body was found late Saturday night in the couple's Beach Walk Condos complex. Investigators said it appears the 34-year-old was killed a week earlier, either the night of Oct. 25 or the morning of Oct. 26.

McGinty was found dead in a hotel room in Gainesville Sunday night. Gainesville police say the 30-year-old shot himself in the head.

He wrote a suicide note, Hillsborough deputies say. Gainesville police spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg told the Gainesville Sun that in the note McGinty "was apparently apologizing for committing suicide and claimed everything was an accident."

Deputies applied Saturday for search warrants during the investigation.

Physical evidence found includes a grayish/beige Rubbermaid plastic container, gray duct tape, hair, blood, firearms, projectiles, latent fingerprints and weapons, the affidavit shows.

On Friday, Dusza's mother, Deborah O'Donnell, arrived at her daughter's condominium at 4333 Bayside Village Drive to check on her welfare. O'Donnell last spoke to her daughter Oct. 25.

The landlord let O'Donnell into the residence, and she saw her daughter's purse, wallet and cell phone on the kitchen counter. Pets in the home appeared to have been left unattended for days.

O'Donnell, who called deputies to file a missing persons report, also noted that her daughter's vehicle, a red 2006 Jeep Wrangler, was missing, the affidavit states.

Detective Troy Morgan called McGinty's sister, Allison Cavanaugh, and learned she spoke to McGinty the week of Oct. 15.

Cavanaugh said McGinty told her "that he had put a gun to his head and was having suicidal thoughts due to his failing business," according to the affidavit. She had spoken to McGinty again more recently.

Morgan was let into the residence and found what appeared to be blood spatter on the west wall of the living room as well as the baseboard of the same wall, the affidavit states. Dusza's purse was on the kitchen counter and appeared to have blood transfer on the outside.

"Detective Troy Morgan also observed a live .40 caliber bullet on the floor in what appeared to be a home office, and a live shotgun shell was observed next to Wendy M. Dusza's purse on the kitchen counter," the affidavit states.

A search warrant was obtained, and investigators found a receipt in the pocket of a pair of shorts in the condominium that detailed a purchase from a local Lowe's. Items purchased included 55 yards of duct tape and a 45-gallon Rubbermaid container with wheels.

McGinty bought the items Oct. 26 at about 7:22 p.m., surveillance video from Lowe's shows, according to the affidavit.

An interview Saturday with Dusza's mother and stepfather helped detectives learn Dusza and McGinty were renting a garage on the property. They gave detectives directions to the garage.

A detective went to the garage and smelled a foul odor, according to the affidavit.

"Detective Troy Morgan smelled a strong odor of decay and noticed numerous flies within the garage," the affidavit states.

Morgan spotted a brown, tarplike cover in the center of the garage, the affidavit states. He lifted the cover and discovered what appeared to be the container purchased from Lowe's. Duct tape was wrapped around the container's lid, and the smell emanating from the container appeared to be that of a decaying corpse, according to the affidavit.

An autopsy on Dusza was performed Sunday, said Dick Bailey, manager of operations for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office.

McGinty previously had been physically abusive to Dusza, and her family considered him a jerk, Dusza's cousin Amy Croce said Monday. Croce said she told Dusza to leave McGinty several times during the couple's three-year relationship. Dusza was afraid for her life with him but went back to him time and again, Croce said.

News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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