TAMPA, Fla. — A Pandora bracelet linked a Brandon woman to the brutal murder of a North Carolina man in Tampa. 

  • Brandon woman charged in death of NC man
  • Melissa McNutt charged with 1st-degree murder
  • Justin Heilig shot, stabbed to death on September 30

Tampa police arrested and charged Melissa McNutt, 25, with the armed robbery and first-degree murder of 34-year-old Justin Heilig.

Heilig was found bleeding and lying on the front porch of a home in a Hyde Park neighborhood on September 30.  Police say he suffered gunshot and stab wounds and later died at the hospital. 

Detectives learned that Heilig and McNutt were together that night in Ybor City.  Heilig was spotted getting the passenger seat of McNutt's Nissan Altima, which was seen on surveillance video leaving the area of the 600 block of South Willow Avenue after neighbors heard gunshots. 

Police also found a knife and a Pandora bracelet near the crime scene at East Swann and South Willow Avenue.  Police said DNA found on the Pandora bracelet placed McNutt at the scene of the murder.

McNutt was arrested on Thursday, October 18. 

The homicide investigation is ongoing.  Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

Tampa police arrested and charged Melissa McNutt, 25, with the armed robbery and first-degree murder of 34-year-old Justin Heilig.
Tampa police arrested and charged Melissa McNutt, 25, with the armed robbery and first-degree murder of 34-year-old Justin Heilig.