Anthony Naiboa, a 20-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically murdered on October 19, 2017, in Tampa, Florida. Anthony, who had autism, was on his way home from a new job packaging supplies for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico when he was shot dead on North 15th Street. He was the third victim of a serial killer who terrorized the Seminole Heights neighborhood for 51 days.
This serial killer, later identified as Howell Donaldson III, was responsible for the deaths of Benjamin Mitchell, 22, Monica Hoffa, 32, and Ronald Felton, 60, before being apprehended.
The arrest of Howell Donaldson III came after a two-month manhunt. Donaldson, then 24, was arrested on November 27, 2017, at a McDonald's restaurant in Ybor City. He was charged with four counts of premeditated murder. The case against Donaldson was significant, as it brought an end to the fear and anxiety that had gripped the Seminole Heights community. The investigation revealed that Donaldson had no prior connection to his victims, making the murders appear random and senseless.
In the years following the murders, the legal proceedings against Howell Donaldson III continued. On May 5, 2023, nearly six years after the killings, Donaldson pleaded guilty and accepted a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. This plea deal was controversial, as some family members of the victims, including Anthony Naiboa's father, Casimar Naiboa, believed that justice was not fully served. Casimar Naiboa expressed frustration with the judicial system, feeling that the judge and prosecutors did not handle his son's case properly and were not interested in pursuing the death penalty.
The impact of Anthony Naiboa's death on his family has been profound. Anthony, who was remembered as a kind and ambitious young man, had defied expectations despite his autism. He graduated from Middleton High School with a full diploma and was known for his sociable nature once he was "broken out of his shell." His family continues to honor his memory in their daily lives, keeping his presence alive through small rituals and remembrances. The loss of Anthony has left a lasting void in their lives, as they navigate the grief and pain of losing a beloved son and brother.
