A Florida man has been charged with second-degree murder following the brutal death of a woman last June outside a Church’s Chicken in Tampa. The victim, 48-year-old Dawn Morrison, was found with signs of significant decomposition near the drive-thru area of the restaurant, located at 2219 E. Fletcher Ave., on June 18. Deputies were called to the scene just after 10 a.m. for a death investigation. They discovered Morrison’s body partially hidden under some mulch in the area.
An autopsy later revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses indicated that Morrison had been walking with a man behind the Church’s Chicken restaurant shortly before midnight on June 15. While the footage did not capture the actual murder, it did record disturbing sounds of the woman’s voice, pleading with the man to “quit it” and “help,” according to a motion for pretrial detention.
The video also captured the man leaving the area shortly after, changing his shirt and disposing of items in a dumpster. Authorities soon released a photo of the man seen in the video, which led to him being identified as Michael Canty, 54. He was found a few blocks from the scene on June 20, where deputies observed he was wearing the same pants, boots, and a New England Patriots drawstring bag, as seen in the surveillance footage. When initially questioned, Canty denied any involvement and claimed he had not seen Morrison since the day before the murder.
However, upon being confronted with video evidence that placed him at the scene with Morrison that night, Canty’s story changed. He admitted that he may have been at the Church’s Chicken area but insisted he did not remember the events. He further stated that he left Morrison sitting on a curb near the restaurant, claiming he threw away his shirt because it had become “dirty.”
Canty’s inconsistent statements raised further suspicion, and officers arrested him for an open container violation. Authorities obtained a search warrant to examine his pants and boots, and the Florida Department of Corrections crime lab confirmed that DNA evidence found on them matched both Canty and Morrison. Additionally, Canty was found to have disposed of his shirt, an action that led to a tampering with evidence charge.
Canty’s criminal history includes prior arrests, such as a failure to report as a sex offender in October, as well as another arrest in February for unrelated charges. During his post-arrest interrogation, he continued to deny killing Morrison and could not explain why her blood was found on his clothing. He also could not provide a reasonable explanation for his actions and attempts to dispose of evidence.
As a result, Canty has been charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He remains in custody at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude for the tireless efforts of their detectives, noting their dedication to ensuring that the responsible individual would face justice. Sheriff Chad Chronister praised the work of the investigation team, emphasizing the importance of bringing closure to the victim’s family and holding Canty accountable for his actions.
