Scott Schweickert’s attorney claims that Schweickert did not intend for Michael Wachholtz and Jason Galehouse, two Tampa men, both allegedly drugged, raped and killed by Schweickert and Steven Lorenzo, who is currently serving time for drugging and brutally sexually assaulting nine gay men, to die. Pedro Amador, Schweickert’s attorney, told the court that both men “died at the hand of Steven Lorenzo.”

In a failed attempt last week, Amador tried to have several statements made by Schweickert excluded from trial, claiming that Schweickert did not have an attorney when the statements were made. His motion was denied by U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, stating there was no evidence that Schweickert requested an attorney.

In addition to “statements Schweickert made to law enforcement that Lorenzo persuaded him to help cut up Galehouse’s body and dump it in trash bins around the city,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Porcelli plans to share the following with the court:

Schweickert told investigators that he and Lorenzo picked up Galehouse in a Tampa gay bar, took him Lorenzo’s home where Galehouse was slipped a drug hidden in a drink, and when he was unable to resist, had sex with him.

He then told police that Lorenzo held Galehouse in a “sleeper hold” until he passed out. When Lorenzo realized that Galehouse was dead, they dismembered his body, placed the parts in bags and drove discarded the remains in various trash bins throughout the Tampa area.

Schweickert alleged that the following night he went with Lorenzo to the same bar and picked up Wachholtz. At Lorenzo’s home they drugged Wachholtz but when he began to struggle with Lorenzo, an ether-soaked rag was held to Wachholtz’s face until he passed out and then died.

Schweickert claimed that he and Lorenzo then wrapped the body in a sheet and placed it in Wachholtz’s Jeep sport utility vehicle. The Jeep was discovered Jan. 6, 2004.