Dishing with Mark n Carrie …. Knight Parade & Super Bowl LVII

Steve Lorezno Murder Trial

Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz.

Tampa Pride president Carrie West, left, speaks with members of the media as Tyler Butler, right, who was friends with Jason Galehouse, looks on after attending Steven Lorenzo’s murder trial at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Lorenzo pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder for the 2003 deaths of Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz at Lorenzo’s Seminole Heights home.

Carrie West & Tyler Butler

It has now been 20 years since we started looking for Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz. Then after 9 months of investigating we learned that Steven Lorenzo and Scott Schweickert had killed them. The past 3 months in court have been a rollercoaster of emotions for us 4 Community LGBT activists (Tyler Butler, Robert, Mark & Carrie West). During the court case we sat and listened to weeks of all the graphic details, testimony, and photos. This past week we heard testimony from 8 of Lorenzo’s victims. Each had been drugged, tortured, raped, beaten, shaved, videotaped, and photographed. On the last day of court, before the closing arguments, the Mothers of Jason and Michael spoke out for the 1^st time. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. Now on February 20^th, Lorenzo will have one last time to present comment to the court as he represents himself.

On Friday, February 24^th the Judge will decide life or death sentence. At first, we all wanted the death penalty. Lorenzo has asked for the death penalty too. In a statement he told the Judge that he wants “to do time his way.” Then went on to say the he is now 64 years old. This case will automatically go to the Florida Supreme Court. This process will take 15 to 20 years. If he lives that long, he will then be in his 80’s. On death row he will receive a private cell, private TV, unlimited internet time, upgraded food and be given the VIP death row treatment. If given life in prison he would be put back into regular general prison populus with no appeal. Life would actual be a harder sentence.

Thru all this Tyler Butler and his husband Robert, Us (Mark & Carrie) and an occasional other persons have been at the court proceedings. “Tru T” https://www.facebook.com/trutea1 and “Dishing with Mark & Carrie” https://www.mcfilm.co/ have both covered this. Unfortunately, none of the other, so-called LGBTQ+ Media were there. Today on Facebook I saw all kinds of heated petty drama. There was nothing about the murder and rape of these local community LGBT victims. What sad priorities our local LGBT community have!