A search for a man suspected in the death of Alicia Nicole McDonald, 22, of 928 Sunshine Way SW in Winter Haven, ended at about 3 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, when Michael “Romeo” Andrew Hagan, 26, of 3147 Spirit Lake Road in Winter Haven, was taken into custody by Polk County SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team members and PCSO deputies at the Tower View Motel in Lake Wales at 1518 North Scenic Hwy.

According to PCSO reports, around
2 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, McDonald’s roommates awoke to use the restroom and saw blood in their house.

The two, who are boyfriend and girlfriend, share the house with McDonald at 928 Sunshine Way SW in Winter Haven. That’s when they noticed McDonald and her car were missing.

McDonald’s roommates spent the next two hours looking for her, according to PCSO, and making phone calls.

When they could not find her, they drove to the Winter Haven Police Department around 4 a.m. and reported her missing.

The WHPD sent out a BOLO (Be On Look Out) with McDonald’s information, and a description of her car.

Around 5:15 a.m. a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Winter Haven area found the BOLO’ed vehicle parked at the end of a cul-de-sac on Varner Drive in Winter Haven. When he approached the blue 2007 4-door Suzuki Forenza, he found Alicia dead inside the car, in the passenger seat. Detectives determined she was the victim of a homicide. Her autopsy is being conducted at this time.

Hagan, McDonald’s boyfriend, had a Polk County warrant for his arrest for violation of probation (robbery). PCSO deputies have been looking for him not only to serve him with the warrant but to talk to him about the homicide of his girlfriend, McDonald.

Deputies received information on Tuesday evening, Feb. 7, that Hagan was at the motel. When they responded there to speak with him, he refused to come out of his room. The SWAT team was activated, and Hagan ultimately surrendered to them without incident.

Hagan has been booked into the Polk County Jail on two counts for violation of probation. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges are pending, according to the PCSO.

— Compiled by Kathy Leigh Berkowitz