But his blood type wasn't B and he was eventually released.
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After some tip-offs from concerned students on the campus, police investigated University of Florida student Edward Humphrey, who had scratches all over his face and a history of mental illness. Thanks to DNA technology they knew their main suspect was a secretor and that his blood type was B. Police also noticed the victims' doors bore similar forced entry markings from what could possibly be the same break-in tool. In addition to all the women being posed, their bodies had been wiped down with a cleaning agent after they had been killed. There were some key similarities between the victims and the way they were murdered. "But this was a very sick and demented individual that would not only perpetrate this kind of crime, but then set up this kind of crime scene for its shock value." Tracy Paules had been dragged from her bedroom.
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"We already knew we were dealing with a monster," said Maines. Paules' body, like the previous women, had been posed, while Taboada's body remained in the same position as when he was killed - proof that Rolling's mark as a killer was reserved for his female victims. It's believed that Paules was the intended victim of Rolling's attack but when he came across Taboada he killed him too. The bodies of Tracy Paules, 23, and Manuel 'Manny' Taboada, also 23, were found in their apartment. Two days later there were two more discoveries. (The resident mentioned earlier, Dianna, is Christa's mother.) Manny Taboada and Tracy Paules were housemates. "The most horrific part was the decapitated head had been placed on a bookshelf, and was looking back at her decapitated body," recalled Maines. Her murderer had posed her on the edge of her bed, sitting up with her feet on the ground and her hands on her thighs. Hoyt had been raped and stabbed, and her torso had been cut open. Christa Hoyt's body had been violated in the most unimaginable way. She didn't answer the door when they knocked, so one of the deputies went out back to where her room was, flashed the torch through the window, and saw one of the most gruesome scenes imaginable. When she failed to show up for work the deputies were dispatched to her residence. Nine hours later, cops were called to a more horrifying scene, and this one hit hard because it was one of their own.Ĭhrista Hoyt, 18, was a student and dispatcher with the county sheriff's office. RELATED: Can't get enough of true crime shows? Here are a few of the best "It was done for its shock value for whoever was to enter that room - this is what you would see."
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"The posing was definitely deliberate," said Maines. (Nine)Īs detectives moved through the apartment they discovered Powell's body in a similar position on the living room floor downstairs. Police noticed there were markings near the door that indicated a break-in. Her arms were above her head, and there was residue on her wrists that indicated duct tape had been used to secure her, and then removed. Larson's body had been pulled to the edge of the bed, her legs draped over.
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What was striking about this particular scene was the posing of the victim on the bed." "They find Sonja on the bed, stabbed to death. "They discovered a rather gruesome scene," said Special Agent Don Maines. When they got no response at the girls' apartment, they called the police, who had to break into a door that led to Larson's room. Powell's parents hadn't heard from her for a few days, so they showed up to meet with their daughter. Murder victims Christina Powell, Sonja Larson and Christa Hoyt.