Body in container thought to be hairstylist missing for 2 weeks

Police say a man arrested in Ohio with the missing man's 1985 red Porsche 944 told them where to find the body in Tarpon Springs.

By CHRISTINA HEADRICK and BRYAN GILMER

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 15, 1999

TARPON SPRINGS -- The confession of a man held in Ohio has led police to a body believed to be that of Panormitis "Michael" Markonios, a 36-year-old fashion designer and hairstylist missing for two weeks.

Tarpon Springs officers discovered the body late Saturday stuffed in a plastic container near Corinthian Catamarans, 1065 Island Ave. The boat yard sits on a pockmarked road on the heavily industrial northern bank of the Anclote River.

"We all hoped for a better result, but we all thought

Panormitis "Michael" Markonios of Tarpon Springs had been missing since Feb. 2.

this might be what happened," Tarpon Springs police Chief Mark LeCouris said Sunday. "Now we think we can finally put an end to the waiting of the family. They can finally find out what happened."

Markonios' family declined to comment until the county medical examiner confirms the body's identity. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

The break in a nationwide hunt to locate Markonios came Thursday, when William Mahood, a 27-year-old who had been spending time with Markonios, was captured about 930 miles away in Ohio.

An Ohio state trooper arrested Mahood after finding him with Markonios' 1985 red Porsche 944 at an Interstate 70 rest stop west of Dayton. Since then, Mahood has been held in Ohio on a parole violation charge related to a West Virginia case, LeCouris said.

Two Tarpon Springs detectives, lead investigator Robert Faugno and Sgt. Al MacKenzie, flew to Ohio to interview Mahood and secure any evidence related to Markonios' disappearance.

"He pretty much gave a confession and let our investigators know where we could find the body," LeCouris said. "About 10:30 p.m., they called down here and we went out to go look. I'd say we're almost as sure as sure can be."

The co-owner of the boat yard where police discovered the body said he was neither surprised nor disturbed by the event. He also lives in a mobile home on the site.

"I think it's nothing new around here," said Gary Heberle, 57. "This is the working side of the river over here."

In trying to solve the disappearance, police had tracked the use of Markonios' First Union credit card in New Port Richey, Alachua County, South Carolina and finally near Cleveland.

LeCouris said other details of the crime are still being investigated, including the exact manner of death.

Local authorities will ask for the extradition of Mahood to Pinellas County, LeCouris said. Mahood had not been formally charged as of late Sunday.

Before his disappearance, Markonios told friends that he had met a man with a 666 tattoo, who carried a knife and made threatening comments. Mahood has such a tattoo, and a criminal record for grand theft and escape.

Friends have described Markonios as a creative person who designed his own line of women's clothing. His dresses were once showcased at the Sea Horse on the Docks gallery, near Tarpon Springs' historic sponge docks.

After becoming a hairstylist about 18 months ago, he worked at Salon Kome in the Manatee Village shopping center on South Pinellas Avenue.

Markonios was last seen alive by his friends Feb. 2.