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‘I think I killed him:’ Woman accused of killing man at Orange County apartment complex, deputies say

Victim’s body found wrapped in plastic bags, report shows

Chiquita Dorell Howard

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 30-year-old woman was arrested on murder charges in connection with the death of a man at the Colonial Gardens Apartments Saturday morning, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies received a call around 9:30 a.m. about an injured man at the complex, located at 4919 W. Colonial Drive, according to an arrest report.

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When deputies arrived, they found Chiquita Howard, 30, sitting on a bed inside the apartment. Also inside the room was the victim’s body, wrapped in bloody plastic bags, according to a report.

Prior to authorities arriving, Howard told 911 operators “I beat the hell out of this man” and “I remember beating the (expletive) out of this man," investigators said.

Howard then told the 911 operators “I think I killed him.”

However, when deputies arrived, Howard’s story changed. She told deputies she threw a vase at the man and ran away.

According to investigators, the man’s body had much more serious trauma to his body than what Howard had described.

During a preliminary investigation, authorities found multiple stab wounds to his neck and torso, the report said.

“There was a significant amount of blood on the ground and blood splatter on the wall, not consistent with having a vase thrown at him,” deputies said.

According to the report, Howard confessed to murdering the man in her 911 call as she told the operator that she “beat the (expletive) out of him.”

Deputies arrested Howard on one charge of first-degree murder.

The victim’s name has not been released.

Death investigation underway at Colonial Gardens Apartments in Orange County. (WKMG)

This is a developing story. Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates.


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