Patty Michelle White

Case overview

Patty Michelle White killed her former roommate, Michele O'Dowd, and later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing O'Dowd. A judge sentenced White to 45 years in prison on October 14, 2013.

Timeline

• December 2011 — Patty Michelle White killed Michele O'Dowd in O'Dowd’s home and hid her body beneath Christmas presents.
• December 5, 2011 — Michele O'Dowd’s twin brother, Phil Axt, discovered Michele O'Dowd’s body at O'Dowd’s home.
• Saturday (date not stated) — York Police pulled over a car carrying White and White’s mother on East Liberty Street near College Street after authorities obtained a fugitive from justice warrant; White was held at the York County Detention Center awaiting extradition.
• Saturday (date not stated) — White confessed to authorities after being pulled over and arrested.
• Tuesday (date not stated) — A judge sentenced Patty Michelle White to 45 years in prison following her plea of guilty.
• October 14, 2013 — White was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
• October 15, 2013 — A report described White’s sentencing for killing her former roommate.

The offence

Michele O'Dowd, 67, was found beaten, strangled, and hidden beneath Christmas presents in her home. Her apartment was described as a shambles and ransacked, with chairs and tables turned upside down. The front door was open when her twin brother, Phil Axt, discovered the body.

Phil Axt found a foot sticking out of a pile of Christmas gifts. Beneath the gifts, he found Michele O'Dowd’s cold body with her bloody face covered with a towel.

Authorities said Patty Michelle White beat and strangled O'Dowd and made it look like a burglar ransacked the home by knocking items over and tossing Christmas presents around. Authorities also said White took O'Dowd’s credit cards and stole money from her accounts. Police said White made attempts to disguise herself from ATM surveillance images but was recognized by family members.

Background

Patty Michelle White was described as a former roommate and a family friend of Michele O'Dowd. White had been an ex-girlfriend of the victim’s nephew and was described as a family friend considered to be part of the family. Michele O'Dowd allowed White to stay at her home for about a month for free, trusting White with O'Dowd’s PIN number to her debit card so White could purchase groceries for the two of them.

Phil Axt described that his family had known White for four or five years. He said his sister and White had broken up with the nephew, and that White moved to Orlando for a while. He said White occasionally made overnight visits to his sister.

Phil Axt said his sister would send White to the store for groceries and other items. He also said she sometimes baby-sat his grandchildren and helped decorate his business for the holidays. He said his family paid White to clean houses or do other jobs to help her earn money.

A police canvass of 10 homes around O'Dowd’s found only one person home, and they did not hear anything. Axt said neighbors heard screams.

Investigation

The investigation connected the murder to stolen bank access. Authorities said O'Dowd’s debit card was missing and used shortly after her death at two ATM machines near her home. Investigators tracked usage by identifying ATMs used and surveillance video that captured images of White. Family members helped identify White as the suspect.

Investigators said White returned to Jacksonville to rob the older woman. Police identified the motive behind the crime as robbery, while also stating that something “went horribly wrong.”

A police report included that a police canvass of 10 homes around O'Dowd’s found only one person home, and they did not hear anything.

Arrest and extradition process

Patty Michelle White was found in South Carolina after returning there following the killing. York Police officers pulled over a car carrying White and her mother on East Liberty Street near College Street around 3:40 p.m., and they obtained a fugitive from justice warrant. White was held at the York County Detention Center awaiting extradition back to Florida.

Chief Robinson said White was not fighting extradition and was expected to return to Florida to face murder charges on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Trial and plea

White pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing Michele O'Dowd. On October 14, 2013, a judge sentenced White to 45 years in prison.

People

• Patty Michelle White (40; also described as 41) — the defendant; pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
• Michele O'Dowd (67) — the victim; her body was found in her home beneath Christmas presents.
• Phil Axt — Michele O'Dowd’s twin brother; discovered her body.
• White’s mother — a passenger in the car stopped in South Carolina.
• Andy Robinson — York Police Chief.
• Lieutenant Rich Caddell — a lieutenant quoted about securing the person in order to protect residents.
• Lt. Rob Schoonover — Jacksonville Sheriff's Office lieutenant quoted about tracking the suspect and confession.

Quotations

Phil Axt said:

• "I knew this wasn't going to pretty,"
• "I grabbed her ankle and it was cold,"
• "So many people in the community said they heard someone screaming and wailing, and no one called the police,"
• "she just couldn't keep a job, couldn't get her life together."
• "How can you be so sick"
• "to bury the victim with children’s gifts?"
• "This was her favorite time of the year,"
• "She even took care of decorating his business for the holidays,"
• "She was part of the family,"

Axt said:

• "Whatever took place in that apartment went horribly wrong and she ended up beating and killing her," according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said:

• "Whatever took place in that apartment went horribly wrong and [White] wound up beating and killing [O'Dowd],"

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reported during a press conference:

• "Whatever took place inside that apartment went horribly wrong and [White] wound up beating and killing [O'Dowd],"

Lieutenant Rich Caddell said:

• "From the time we were notified, the ball rolled pretty quickly."
• "Our concern was [even though] the crime wasn't committed in the city, someone capable of committing that crime was here. We want to secure the person in order to protect the residents."

Phil Axt said to WTEV-News (a CBS affiliate in Jacksonville):

• "There is nothing worse than when you walk inside and find your own sister brutally murdered over a stupid debit card,"

White’s family member described O'Dowd as:

• "the most sweetest, kindest person who would never hurt a fly,"

Other details

Authorities said White drove from South Carolina to where she used to live with O'Dowd. After the murder, White drove to her parents’ house in York. Authorities took some clothes from White’s family’s home in South Carolina to be examined and turned over to Florida police. A car in which White and her mother were traveling when White was arrested was also examined but later released to the family.

White’s withdrawals were described as made in Jacksonville on a route leading to the highway and South Carolina, and the thefts were described as $500 stolen each time at two ATMs. Police described that White accused of killing an elderly Florida woman, hiding body under Christmas presents.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office declined further comment pending the investigation. There was no answer Tuesday at a phone listing for White's family in South Carolina.