New details released in 31-year-old Daytona Beach cold case murder
A suspected serial killer said he "backhanded" and fatally choked a Daytona Beach woman in 1991 after she screamed while riding in his car, according to newly released information in a charging affidavit.
Michael S. Townson, 53, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the killing of Linda Lois Little, who vanished Oct. 11, 1991, in Daytona Beach, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department and the 7th Circuit State Attorney's Office.
Townson is being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
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Townson is already serving a life sentence for beating Sherri Carmanto to death with a steel pipe at her home in Titusville in 2007. A Brevard County jury convicted him of the killing in 2008.
Townson has also confessed to two killings in Memphis, Tennessee, including providing details in a woman’s homicide that only the killer would know, the affidavit stated.
Little's killing three decades ago had become a cold case. Then Townson was transferred to Tomoka Correctional Institution near Daytona Beach where in 2020 he asked to speak to Daytona Beach Police.
Townson told police that he was living in Orlando, but traveled to Daytona Beach for his birthday on Oct. 12. Police said based on Townson’s timeline, he arrived in Daytona Beach on Oct. 10, 1991, and met Little the next day.
Oct. 11 is the last day Little was last seen alive after finishing her shift as a waitress, police said.
Townson said he met Little at the 710 Club, which was inside the Texan Hotel at 701 South Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach; it closed in 1993, the affidavit stated.
Little’s sister said she was known to go to the hotel bars on South Atlantic Avenue, the affidavit stated.
Townson told police he and Little got in his car and left the hotel, the affidavit stated. Townson said he suggested she take a shower, the affidavit stated.
Townson told police Little "freaked out and that she began to yell and scream at him," the affidavit stated.
“Mr. Townson stated that he backhanded Linda and then choked her,” according to the affidavit.
Townson said when he realized he had killed Little, he drove north on Interstate 95 into Georgia, the affidavit stated.
Townson stated he believes he got off at the second exit and drove a few miles before disposing of her body behind a dumpster in a rural area, the affidavit stated.
Detectives said the area described by Townson would be Camden County, but unidentified bodies recovered in the area did not match Little, according to the affidavit.
Townson told police that he was “trying to get right with God” and that he deserved to be in prison, the affidavit stated. Townson said he has “a hatred for women.”
Detectives showed Townson a photo of Little and Townson confirmed she was the woman he murdered in October 1991, the affidavit stated.
According to the charging affidavit, Townson stated: “No doubt about it, no doubt.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man, suspected serial killer, choked woman in 1991, report said
