Daniel Conahan
The Hog Trail Killer - Sarasota, Florida



Photo Courtesy Amanda Howard

Daniel Conahan, age 45, is accused of killing six people in Charlotte and Sarasota County, Florida.

Conahan has been convicted for one of the murders, a man by the name of Richard Montgomery. The authorities claim that Conahan used a "murder kit" to kill his victims. The kit contained a knife, rope, tarp, gloves, and a polaroid camera. He was accused of picking up men on the street and taking them into the woods to take nude bondage photos of them. However, once the person was tied up to a tree, Conahan could easily murder his victim. After the death, Conahan would commit various mutilations on the bodies.

The police had Conahan under surveillance for fifty days. Then, an undercover police officer was taken by Conahan into the woods for photos. At this time, the officer left the area, and reported back with his details. Police became aware of many unsolved homicides in the Chicago area prior to 1993, where Conahan previously lived.  There is an EXCELLENT episode of Court TVs MUGSHOTS where they show some of the police surveillance video - and interview a victim who esacped. 

Police arrested him on July 3, 1996. The trial against him for the murder of Richard Montgomery in December of 1999. He was sentenced to death; however, he is now appealing the case, claiming he never murdered anyone.
 

 

   


Victims:

William Patten - Found 4 years after last seen alive
John Doe 1 - Severe injuries in neck and groin area
John Doe 2 - Mostly bones found, no body
William John Melaragno - Stabbed 4 times in the chest and abdomen, and genitals amputated after death
Kenneth Smith - Maintenance worker found his body dismembered
Richard Montgomery - Only man Conahan has been convicted of killing. Strangled to death and found with his genitals amputated.

 

   

 

A Note From Dan Himself...
My name is Daniel O Conahan Jr.

Many have seen my trial on Court TV or read articles on my case on the web or in the news papers. The purpose of this website is to present my side of things and to separate fact from fiction as best I can. You will see that the case against me is entirely circumstantial. You will see that the stat at trial used the deadly combination of lies, half truths , and truths in order to gain a conviction. You will see that the news media also used lies, half truths and truths in order to create a fictional character that would draw readers and influence prospective jurors.

You will see the incompetence of my court appointed counsel who had previously worked with the same state attorney and assistant state attorneys that prosecuted my case when they too were assistant state attorneys in the same circuit court before going into private practice. I will try to show you these things using documentation I have. With the exception of the copies of several witnesses trial testimonies I do not have a copy of my trial transcripts. Although I have requested my complete trial transcripts from my trial counsel after trial and mu public defender appeals counsel they have all refused to provide me with these transcripts nor can I afford to get copies of these transcripts. I will also use what documentation I was provided with prior to trial which is called the discovery but this also is limited since my trial counsel did not provide me a full copy of my discovery either.

Even with this limited documentation I believe I will still be able to show many of the lies and half truths the state, news media and a number of witnesses have embraced. I will be adding information to this web site on a regular basis so please log back for new information. It will however take time to post all the information I would to show you since I am doing this via mail from Florida to Australia. I would like to thank Korey for setting up this website for me since I would be unable to do this without her. I have enclosed my address and welcome your letters and comments. Please send a stamped envelope with your letters so I can write you back. J

In March 1997 I was charged with the Premeditated 1st degree murder and Sexual Battery of Richard Montgomery in Charlotte County Florida in the 20th circuit court. After a bench trial which lasted approximately one week I was found guilty of Premeditated 1st degree murder and Kidapping and I was acquitted of 1st degree felony murder and Sexual Battery by Chief Judge Blackwell. I am presently incarcerated on Death row in Raiford Florida U.S.A At this time let me state as I have known from day one that I did not commit the crime I was charged with and or convicted of, nor did I commit any other of the murders/crimes that I have been accused of by the police and on news media, nor have I been charged with any of those crimes due to the lack of any creditable evidence.

If the state had any creditable evidence in any of those unsolved cases they would have surely seeked an indictment and charged me, but they have not and will not. The information I will be sharing with you will be posted in sections. Each section will address a witness, evidence or an accusation by a witness, the state, the police or the news media. As I said should anyone wish to write me my address is listed below.

Thank you


Daniel O. Conahan #Y02046, P-2121
Union Correctional Institute
7819 N.W. 228th Street
Raiford, FLORIDA 32026-4420
 

 

 

 

 

 

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