Florida Man Arrested After Woman’s Body Found Buried at Fast-Food Drive-Thru

Months after a gruesome discovery behind a fast-food restaurant in Tampa, police have arrested 54-year-old Michael Canty in connection with the murder of Dawn Morrison. The 48-year-old woman’s partially buried body was found near a Church’s Chicken drive-thru on June 18 last year, sending shockwaves through the community.

Authorities say Morrison had suffered upper body trauma, though they haven’t released further details on the cause of death. Her death was ruled a homicide, and after months of investigation—including interviews with her friends and family, DNA analysis, and security footage review—Canty was identified as a suspect.

More: 33-Year-Old Man Kills Girlfriend, Her 13-Year-Old Son, and Friend Before Taking His Own Life
More: 20-Year-Old Southern University Student Killed During Fraternity Ritual Off Campus

Surveillance footage played a key role in the case. According to the Tampa Bay Times, video captured Canty and Morrison walking together near a McDonald’s dumpster on June 15, just days before her body was discovered. The two then moved toward the Church’s Chicken location, and chillingly, a loud scream for “help” was heard before the camera footage cut out, as reported by the Independent.

Additional footage showed Canty pacing between the two restaurants and later changing his clothes, raising further suspicions.

Canty initially denied having been at the fast-food location with Morrison. However, when police confronted him with surveillance clips, he backtracked, admitting it was “a possibility” that he had been there and suggesting he may have simply forgotten. He also claimed that he and Morrison were together that night because they were using drugs.

More: Missing 15-Year-Old Girl Found Dead Near Mysterious Burning Car
More: 21-year-old Girl College Student Murdered While Closing Georgia Bar—Chilling Motive Revealed

At the time of his murder charge, Canty was already behind bars on an unrelated offense—failing to register as a sex offender. Now, in addition to that charge, he’s facing accusations of second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.

The case has left many in the Tampa area shaken, with Morrison’s tragic death and the unsettling circumstances surrounding it sparking ongoing conversations about crime and safety in the community.

For You:

• Arizona Mom Kills Her Two Children with Meat Cleaver in Chilling Revenge on Estranged Husband
• Texas Mom Killed by Stray Bullet While Chatting in Backyard—Family Devastated
• 4-Year-Old Girl Dies After Feeding Tube Mishap at a Virginia School
• Georgia Couple Found Dead in Blood-Soaked Beds; Double Homicide Suspected
• California Family Says Viral Social Media Challenge Led to 13-Year-Old’s Death
• 26-Year-Old Missouri Mother Allegedly Beat, Starved, and Locked 5-Year-Old Son in Closet