Prosecutors Describe Suspect Steeped In Sadomasochism

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jan 18, 2007

TAMPA - When Scott Schweickert left home, he was ready for bondage and torture.

Investigators who searched his home and car in Peru, Ill., in November 2004 found a bag full of sadomasochistic sexual aids and toys, according to testimony in Schweickert's federal drug trial Wednesday.

Inside the black bag, investigators found steel handcuffs, a leather strap with a rubber ball attached, leather hat and gloves, metal clamps, clothespins, electric probes, a whip, a chain, nylon rope, padlocks, sex toys, leg shackles, metal paddles, an aluminum bat and other implements.

There was also a T-shirt that gave a definition for sadist: "One who cares enough to inflict the very best."

Schweickert is standing trial on two counts of drug-facilitated crimes of violence and one count of conspiracy with Steven Lorenzo. The prosecution alleges that Schweickert and Lorenzo in December 2003 drugged, tortured and killed two men - Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz - to fulfill their own sexual fantasies.

According to testimony presented Wednesday, a leather neck restraint found in Schweickert's bag of sex toys had DNA on it that could have come from Galehouse.

Former Florida Department of Law Enforcement laboratory analyst Susanna Vlery testified that Galehouse could not be ruled out as a source from DNA obtained from the neck restraint. However, the sample was insufficient to make a definitive match, Vlery said.

Vlery also testified that suspected blood samples taken from cobblestones in Lorenzo's garage matched Galehouse's DNA.

Wachholtz could not be excluded from the possible contributors to DNA found on a rubber gas mask in Lorenzo's home, she said.

According to an investigation affidavit, Schweickert told investigators that he helped Lorenzo dismember Galehouse's body inside Lorenzo's garage, and helped Lorenzo kill both victims and dispose of their bodies.

A recording of Schweickert's statements to investigators are expected to be played in court this morning.

Tampa police Detective John Columbia testified Wednesday that during the search of Schweickert's home, investigators found Lorenzo's business card next to the laptop computer Schweickert used.

Jurors also were showed photographs found in Schweickert's home of men in various states of bondage and dress and pictures of Schweickert wearing leather and brandishing a whip.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.