Taking Your Routine For Granted
It seemed like a typical day. Delonda Walker, the manager of a McDonald’s in Ybor City, had gotten up, taken the train, and arrived at her place of work. The job was adequate. It sometimes got boring because she had other goals and ambitions, but it supported her financially.
She had no idea she would run into one of Florida’s most notorious criminals on this particular day.
An Ordinary Day At McDonald’s
Routine can be taken for granted at times. We expect that our work will always be the same, that we’ll see and interact with the same people, and that if we become used to something, it will last. However, it isn’t always the case.
The most brutal, wild, and frightening aspects of life occasionally disturb the regular; these are forces about which most people would prefer to be blissfully oblivious. In this story, that is what took place.
Regular Customers
It started as an ordinary day. Delonda didn’t dislike her job but didn’t love it either. She studied French literature at the University of Tampa, but for the time being, she was content to be able to make ends meet. Her dream job was to start a career in research.
As a result, she put on her uniform and prepared for another day at work when she came to the local McDonald’s, where she worked as a manager. However, today was different.
A Strange Man
Hers was the morning shift. Most of her customers worked nearby and stopped by for breakfast or lunch because her store was situated in a busy area.
She had grown accustomed to most of the faces she typically saw daily in just a few months. Each day blended into the next because there were so many regular clients. But this one would be very different.
What Is Wrong With Him?
This time, she spotted a new customer that she had never met before. It wasn’t anything peculiar in itself. But there was more to it.
The aura around the new client was ominous and unsettling. One can assume that he was one of the homeless persons that used to gather in that area. But this one was distinctive. Not only did he look odd and out of place, but his demeanor also gave off a dangerous vibe. Delonda was terrified simply by watching him walk through the door.
Remaining Calm
But she disregarded it. Why in the world would she be scared? What is the worst that might happen? Most likely, it was merely some strange person from the street.
It was a little creepy, but she figured that was about it. But she couldn’t get rid of the feeling that something was wrong with this man.
Coming To An End
Delonda shuddered as the man approached the counter and fixed his gaze on the menu that hung over her head.
But she made an effort to gather herself before asking the man what he wanted. That feeling of eeriness made her nervous while she waited for his reply.
A Strange Bag
The man finally placed his order from the menu. Delonda felt relieved because it meant her interaction with the unsettling customer was about to end. She simply had to give him his order, take the payment, and watch him leave.
After receiving his order, the man paid in cash. Delonda wasn’t expecting what he did next, though.
A Gun
The unsettling man swiftly threw a plastic bag in the trash and went to the front door before leaving the restaurant.
Delonda wasn’t sure why. Was this a joke of some kind? Already, it had been one of the strangest shifts in a long time. She decided to inspect the bag by going to the garbage can. Her heart leaped at what she saw.
The Police Steps In
Inside the bag was a gun! Delonda’s stomach sank, and her heart began to race. Was he a criminal in any way? Was he merely a creep or a practical joker?
The weapon was loaded, which she confirmed. She was frightened beyond anything she had ever experienced and immediately called the police to report the incident.
It Was The Police
Soon enough, a police car pulled up to Delonda’s McDonald’s, picked up the weapon, asked Delonda some questions about how the man who gave it to her looked and returned to the station.
For the next few days, Delonda felt anxious, wondering who that creepy man with the gun was. Not long after, she received a fateful call.
A Tense Moment?
It was the Tampa Police Department. They had been investigating the man with the gun and thought they had caught him. He was detained at the station at this moment.
They just needed Delonda to come to the station and confirm that he was the same man she had seen at McDonald’s. She went over, and sure enough, it was him.
The Long Wait
Delonda felt a bit shaken just seeing his face again. Even though she pointed him out from behind a one-way mirror, his creepy aura was still palpable.
Without hesitation, Delonda pointed him out. Even though she knew he could not see her, Delonda could not help but feel like he was watching her somehow. His eyes were filled with rage, and he was staring in her direction.
The News Was Chilling
After the lineup, Delonda faced an agonizing wait. Left sitting in the station’s waiting area, Delonda still needed to learn who the man was and what she had gotten herself mixed up in.
The time ticked by, and Delonda became more nervous by the minute. After what like an eternity, the lead officer on the case, Detective Sergeant Jeremy Williams, came to get her.
It Got Worse
Officer Williams had a very grave look on his face when he approached Delonda. He escorted her into his office and asked her to take a seat.
Facing her, his expression had turned to stone and was now unreadable. His words were chilling when he spoke, “Delonda, the man you identified is a dangerous criminal.”
It Was Terrifying
Delonda was still reeling from this news when she noticed that Sergeant Williams was still staring intently at her. At that moment, cold dread passed through her once more.
As if this revelation wasn’t scary enough, she could tell he wasn’t done. What he told her next terrified her to her core.
The Truth
Delonda was startled enough to know that a dangerous criminal had been in her store with a loaded weapon. Her mind couldn’t help but go through all the worst-case scenarios of how much worse things could have been.
Now it seemed that there was something even worse about this man. With bated breath, Delonda listened to the news, unable to fully comprehend what she was hearing.
The Evidence
Detective Williams calmly explained that not only was this man a dangerous criminal. He was the lead suspect in a serial killer case. The words “serial killer” rang in Delonda’s ears. Her body began to tremble with fear now.
So many questions plagued her. Would he know it was her that pointed him out? Did he remember what she looked like? Would he be released? Could he come back to the store?
Who Was He?
Detective Williams did his best to reassure Delonda that she would be okay after he saw how afraid she became after hearing the news.
He explained that this man was the likely perpetrator that had been terrifying the wider Tampa area for some time now. The police had been gathering evidence against him, but for now, it was all circumstantial.
The Cameras
Detective Williams explained that the suspect was Howell Emanuel Donaldson III. He was a graduate of St. John’s University in New York. He had been a walk-on student-athlete for the men’s basketball team.
Living in Tampa for over a year now, Howell had a darker side that no one knew.
The evidence had been mounting against him, but it still wasn’t enough for now.
The Request
Detective Williams explained that they had retrieved and gone through the camera footage from the store.
Unfortunately, due to a blindspot at the crucial spot, there was no footage of Howell throwing the bag into the trash. That meant there was only one way to build a case.
She Didn’t Want To Do It
Delonda was already more than shaken by the entire ordeal. Detective Williams was doing his best to keep her calm. Her stress levels took a turn for the worse after that.
Detective Williams seemed nervous now, knowing he had a crucial request to ask of her. When he did, Delonda’s jaw dropped with fear.
She Had No Choice
Explaining that as she was the only material witness that could tie the suspect to the gun, Delonda had become the police’s most vital asset in the case.
She knew what was coming; he could even ask, but he also knew she wanted no part. Delonda was going to have to testify against the suspect in court.
Her Safety
Detective Williams did his best to set her mind at ease. He explained that without her testimony, the suspect would have to be released, which meant he would be out there again.
Eventually, realizing she had no choice, Delonda relented. Now there was just one more crucial question that she had to ask. Without it, she was too afraid to help.
She Had To Do It
Delonda felt her safety was at risk if she took part in this case. Detective Williams assured her that he would do everything to protect her.
That part didn’t worry her so much. She was educated enough to know how the legal system worked. The crucial question to her was, would he be out on bail while the trial went on?
The Case
Detective Williams explained that if she gave a statement that set out what she had witnessed in the store, that, together with her willingness to testify, would be enough to oppose his bail.
Delonda felt a little better but was still extremely nervous about it all. Thinking of the victims, she realized she had a duty to do this for them. She finally agreed.
The Trial
As Detective Williams promised, her statement was enough to deny the suspect’s bail. Now the long wait for the trial began.
Delonda felt afraid and paranoid the entire time but was determined to do her part and help close this case. This man was a monster and needed to face justice. Before long, the trial commenced.
It Was Time
The prosecutors instructed Delonda not to talk to other witnesses or discuss the case with anyone outside the courtroom.
She sat through the initial proceedings. When Howell Emanuel Donaldson first appeared in court, she never looked at him. The case started, and she heard the testimony of how he had a bright future but had lost his way. It was finally her time to testify.
Back To Work
Delonda faced him without fear despite her fears and recounted in detail how she had seen him dumping the bag in the trash. The testimony was enough to tie him to the gun.
The gun was already tied to other murders, and it was enough to convict Howell Emanuel Donaldson III finally. He was sentenced to life, and Delonda was finally free of the horrible ordeal.
Delonda never forgot this incident and often thought about it even after returning to work. After her bravery went public, many people complimented her courage.
One woman, in particular, learned of her ambitions and awarded her a check for $9,000.00 so Delonda could finish her studies. Ultimately, her bravery changed her life, and she was hailed as a hero.