TAMPA – It’s been two years since Steven Lorenzo was sentenced to dying for the murders of two Tampa males.
That sentencing in 2023 lastly introduced some semblance of closure for the households of Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz.
Based on the courtroom paperwork, Lorenzo and an confederate kidnapped Galehouse and Wachholtz on separate events and tortured and murdered the lads.
These murders passed off in December 2003 and in January 2004.
Steven Lorenzo confessed to killing Michael Wachholtz and Jason Galehouse.
Steven Lorenzo murders occurred 20 years in the past
It took police and prosecutors virtually 20 years to get the conviction and sentence imposed on Lorenzo, who’s now on dying row in Florida State Jail.
Courtesy: Florida Division of Corrections
The backstory:
Regulation enforcement developed leads within the murders of the 2 males in Might 2004 after Steven Lorenzo and Scott Schweickert have been arrested following accusations from different males that the pair have been utilizing date rape medicine to incapacitate them and sexually torture them at Lorenzo’s Seminole Heights house.
A forensic workforce took aside the house searching for proof of the crimes, even eradicating the floorboards. That search yielded a treasure trove of proof, together with disturbing movies of victims sure and gagged.
The lads have been arrested on Federal costs referring to drug use and kidnappings, however then the case slowed to a snail’s tempo as each suspects have been tried within the Federal Courtroom system.
Earlier tales:
Each Lorenzo and Schweickert have been discovered responsible in 2005 and sentenced for the Federal costs, however that didn’t embody the murders of Galehouse and Wachholtz.
The households and pals of the victims needed to wait seven extra years till prosecutors lastly introduced state homicide costs towards Lorenzo and Schweickert.
They have been indicted on two counts of first-degree homicide in 2012, and as soon as once more the legal case started to creep via the courtroom system.
Scott Schweickert made a deal to testify towards Lorenzo in trade for a life sentence. His testimony gave prosecutors the knowledge that they wanted to take Lorenzo to trial for the 2 murders.
Courtesy: Florida Division of Corrections
Steven Lorenzo went via a number of competency hearings as he sought to characterize himself for his protection. He then used that place to make totally different claims within the case that delayed the trial for 10 years.
All of it modified in November 2022 when Lorenzo entered courtroom and advised the decide that he was bored with combating the system and needed to plead “responsible” within the case. In his personal handwriting, he wrote to the decide that he wished to enter the plea, be sentenced to dying and that he would waive his proper to enchantment.
He submitted a 147-page handwritten doc to the courtroom outlining what occurred to each victims in graphic element.
That doc will be seen right here.
Nearly 20 years for the reason that disappearances and murders of Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz, the person who did it was going to be held accountable.
The decide accepted his responsible plea, and Steven Lorenzo was sentenced to dying in February 2023.
Steven Lorenzo cross-examines witnesses throughout his sentencing hearings
A complete story on the case is right here.
What we all know:
The dying sentence triggered an automated enchantment within the State of Florida authorized system. Although the convicted man, Steven Lorenzo, was performing as his personal legal professional and made the statements in his personal writing having been declared competent in courtroom, the enchantment course of started.
That enchantment ended with the State Supreme Courtroom this summer time. In June, the Supreme Courtroom of Florida decided that Steven Lorenzo was discovered responsible of two counts of first-degree homicide and was sentenced to dying for these crimes.
They affirmed the convictions and the sentences. The courtroom rejected the enchantment primarily based partially on Lorenzo’s personal protection, stating that he “knowingly and intelligently waived the fitting to counsel” and that Lorenzo was competent to characterize himself figuring out the character of the proceedings.
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The dying sentences being upheld put the case again into Lorenzo’s arms as he stays his personal legal professional.
In August, he responded to the courtroom and requested the “Dismissal of Submit Conviction Proceedings” within the case. Which, in widespread language, is to cease searching for any appeals within the case. He additionally sought to terminate the Collateral Counsel assigned to his case.
That’s the authorized illustration that represents dying row inmates within the State appeals course of. In his case, they have been his co-counsel.
Steve Lorenzo letter to courtroom August 5, 2025
What’s subsequent:
Lorenzo has been given an October 16 courtroom date to seem earlier than Hillsborough County Choose Michelle Sisco for this “post-conviction aid” listening to.
The Workplace of the Capitol Regional Counsel was notified of his intent.
The Supply: This replace on the Steven Lorenzo case was written primarily based on courtroom paperwork from the unique case, his handwritten Professional Se Movement to Dismiss and the Supreme Courtroom of Florida determination upholding his convictions and sentences.
