She had been stuffed into a wardrobe with a washcloth shoved down her throat. She wasn’t breathing. She had fought back, evident from the defensive wounds on her body.
In an attempt to revive her, Gerald yelled for assistance and removed the towel from her lips. He was given CPR instructions by a 911 operator until paramedics could arrive.
It was too late when Tina was taken to the hospital. Hours later, she passed away. Just two miles from the motel, many 911 calls that same morning described an angry, half-naked male.
Five officers were needed to bring him down. The man was thirty-year-old Stephen Havrilka, who was staying in room 209 at the motel, four doors down from Tina.
Havrilka’s criminal history included 36 arrests, four jail terms, and ties to neo-Nazi organizations. He was charged with narcotics offenses, trespassing, burglary, and domestic violence.
According to surveillance footage, Havrilka followed Tina inside room 205 a mere minute after she did. After fourteen minutes, he left with his shoes and a towel.
