Lorenzo Case Inaction Frustrates Many
Published: Dec 21, 2005
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TAMPA - Two years after the deaths of Michael Wachholtz and Jason Galehouse, no murder charges have been brought against the two suspects.
Jurors who convicted Steven Lorenzo of federal drug charges last month said they thought the prosecution had a strong murder case. Police also said they have a strong case. And some gay people are becoming impatient with the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office for its apparent delay in pursuing a case.
State Attorney Mark Ober, citing ethical constraints against discussing open investigations, won't publicly explain why he hasn't brought charges.
Today is the second anniversary of Wachholtz's death, but the first time his loved ones know this is the day he died.
Until photographs of Wachholtz's body were found this spring on Lorenzo's computer, friends knew only that he disappeared sometime in late December and was discovered dead in his Jeep on Jan. 6, 2004.The photographs in the computer were stamped with the date they were taken, Dec. 21, 2003, hours after he was last seen alive.
"I had just known that it was around Christmastime," said Wachholtz's mother, Ruth, who lives in Missouri. "The anniversary in my mind was Christmas. Now I have a date, which doesn't make it any easier, but at least I know."
Lorenzo was convicted in a federal trial Nov. 10 of nine charges of drug-facilitated crimes of violence. Two charges alleged Lorenzo's involvement in the deaths of Galehouse and Wachholtz.
According to trial evidence, Lorenzo was part of a sadomasochistic subculture of dominant and submissive men who engaged in bondage, torture and rape with strangers, many lured from bars. The prosecution said Lorenzo's actions escalated until he met Scott Schweickert and the two joined to bring their ultimate sexual fantasies into reality by abducting and killing Galehouse and Wachholtz.
Lorenzo could face up to 200 years in federal prison when he is sentenced next month. Schweickert is scheduled to go on trial in February on similar federal charges.
Impatience From All Sides
But some are mystified about the lack of action by the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office.
Brian Winfield, spokesman for Equality Florida, said there is increasing impatience among gay people in the Tampa Bay area. "There's determination in this community for charges to be brought," he said.
Vicki Slone, a juror in Lorenzo's federal trial, said she and fellow jurors thought the prosecution had a strong murder case: "I'm surprised they haven't filed murder charges for the families and the others who were involved with" the victims.
Winfield said Ober on Tuesdayresponded to repeated calls Winfield placed and agreed to meet Jan. 4 to discuss the case. "We fully expect murder charges to be brought," Winfield said. "This is just a check-in to see when we can expect that to happen."
Even Lorenzo has expressed impatience. In a letter Nov. 27 to News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos, he wrote, "I fully anticipate and encourage the filing of these pending charges. The obvious delay by the authorities has not been in the best interest of all concerned."
'Wheels Of Justice Move Slow'
Tampa Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said department officials plan to meet with Ober the second week of January. "Our detectives have worked very hard on this case for just about two years, and at this point we feel confident the detectives have built a strong murder case," she said.
Ober refused to answer questions for this story. In response to a request for an interview, he sent a written statement: "Our hearts go out to the victims' families in these tragic deaths. This is an active investigation and we are continuing to work closely with law enforcement on this ongoing case. Steven Lorenzo and Scott Schweickert are currently in federal custody where they remain on a no-bond status. Due to the ethical considerations of a pending investigation, we are precluded from further comment."
"I am wondering what's going on," said Eric Bunch, who said he and Galehouse were like brothers. At the moment, he is concentrating on the holidays, his memories of Galehouse and the anniversary of his disappearance. "This time of year, the focus is just on getting the ones left behind, just getting through this time of year with not having them with us anymore," he said.
Ruth Wachholtz feels strongly that murder charges must be brought. "I think that [Lorenzo] needs to have to stand up and be accused of being a murderer," she said.
Wachholtz said she was "a little bit surprised" to learn recently that murder charges hadn't been filed. But she said she understands that things take time. "The wheels of justice move very slow," she said.
Melissa Hartford, who was one of Michael Wachholtz's closest friends, agreed. "I don't have a problem waiting, just as long as it's going to get done," she said about murder charges. "Maybe Mark Ober has a reason that he's waiting. I don't know the reason. ... I don't really care the reason. ... I feel absolutely for sure, they definitely need to be charged with murder."
Hartford said she's a little frustrated that charges haven't been brought. But "I'm trying to have a little bit of faith in the system and I know everything can't be expedited right away."
No More Suffering
Bunch said he favors a death sentence. "Ultimately, if it were up to me, they would be dead," he said. "But it's not. It's up to the Lord above, or whoever you believe in. ... I would rather see them dead. They don't deserve to live."
Bunch said the case should be a cautionary tale. "Just because these two are behind bars, doesn't mean there are not more out there like them."
Ruth Wachholtz said she wants Lorenzo put to death. But she said she would support life without parole, provided Lorenzo told authorities "what he did to everybody else and where the bodies are. I don't think any of the other families or victims should have to continue to suffer because he's not saying what's been done."
