Sheriff says Florida woman likely dismembered with chainsaw

Missing Florida woman's ex-husband leads authorities to partial remains

The partial remains of Tricia Todd, who disappeared in April, were found in a wooded area of Martin County.

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. – A woman whose partial remains were found in a wooded area of Martin County was likely dismembered by a chainsaw, Sheriff William Snyder said Friday.

Tricia Todd, 30, disappeared last month, and Todd's ex-husband, Steven Williams, confessed Tuesday to killing her and disposing of her body, Snyder said.

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Authorities located the partial remains Thursday. Snyder said the remains were found in a container that was placed in a hole about 3 feet deep at a Martin County preserve.

Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and gave detectives the location of Todd's body as part of a plea deal.

"We had to calculate during that negotiation: Would we take a 35-year plea and get that body, or would we roll the dice, thinking we may never get the body and then go to trial and no guarantee we even got a 35-year plea?" Snyder said.

The last known photograph of Todd alive was an April 26 surveillance image showing her leaving a Publix in Hobe Sound.

Snyder said Williams claimed he pushed Todd during an argument, causing her to fall and hit her head.

Williams is a U.S. Air Force airman who has a 2-year-old daughter with Todd.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.

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