Offender Record · OFF-2026-129
David Middleton (photo from the Radford University biography)
David Stephen Middleton
Also known as The Cable Guy
Sex
Male
Race
Black
Height
6'2"
Born
1961
Custody
Incarcerated
States
FL, NV, MS, CO, MA
Distinguishing featuresBite marks on teeth matched evidence at crime scenes, per court records.
Custody
Incarcerated at High Desert State Prison, Nevada (transferred September 2024 from Ely State Prison) · #Not publicly listed
Custody record at the facility
Sentenced to death on September 15, 1997. As of September 2024, male death row inmates were transferred from Ely State Prison to High Desert State Prison. Nevada Supreme Court upheld death sentence in multiple appeals through 2022.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
David Stephen Middleton was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, grand larceny, fraudulent use of a credit card, and possession of firearms. He was sentenced to death in Washoe County, Nevada in 1997 for the murders of Katherine Powell (an elementary school teacher) and Thelma Davila (a casino worker) in 1994-1995. Middleton is also the prime suspect in the 1993 death of an 18-year-old in Colorado, for which he was never charged. He is currently incarcerated on death row.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date 1989, Miami, Florida
False imprisonment and battery
Miami Dade Circuit Court · Arrested Nov 19, 1989 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Two concurrent 5-year sentences; released after serving 2 years
Convicted of false imprisonment and battery related to sexual assault; released early after serving approximately 2 years of 5-year sentence.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David
Offense date 1989, Miami, Florida
Kidnapping and sexual assault
Miami Dade Police Department · Arrested Nov 19, 1989
Arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault; charges not fully adjudicated in source records.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David; Former cop found guilty on all counts in two killings
Offense date 1989, Miami, Florida
Rape of a woman who worked for Miami-Dade police
Miami Dade Police Department · Miami-Dade Circuit Court · Arrested 1989
Woman who worked for Miami-Dade police was coaxed by Middleton to have consensual sex based on his claims of being a Santerian Priest; he then raped her at his home and used an animal head machete for anal penetration. Arrested November 19, 1989.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David
Offense date Sep 29, 1990, Miami, Florida
Sexual assault and rape of a 16-year-old
Miami Dade Police Department · Arrested Oct 11, 1990 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Pleaded guilty to battery and false imprisonment (jury deadlocked on rape charge); two concurrent 5-year sentences
Middleton was off-duty but in uniform when he picked up a 16-year-old girl on the street in 1990, handcuffed her, drove her to a dark field, and sexually assaulted her in the backseat of his unmarked police car. She reported the assault; jury deadlocked on rape charge so he was convicted of false imprisonment and battery.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David; Former cop found guilty on all counts in two killings
Offense date Nov 21, 1993, Montrose, Colorado
Murder of Buffy Rice Donohue (suspected, no charges filed)
San Miguel County, Colorado
Buffy Rice Donohue, an 18-year-old, was last seen November 21, 1993, being picked up from a parking lot in Montrose, Colorado by Middleton's girlfriend Evonne Haley. Her skeletal remains were discovered May 24, 1995, in a remote wooded area near Norwood, bound and gagged in a plastic bag with blunt force trauma to the head. Middleton is the prime suspect but was never charged due to cost of extradition; Colorado DA Wyatt Angelo declined to prosecute despite evidence.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David; Colorado increases probe of ex-cop in girls murder; Colorado prosecutors handling of murder case criticized
Offense date Aug 08, 1994, Sparks, Nevada
First-degree murder of Thelma Davila
Washoe County, Nevada · Washoe District Court · Arrested Feb 23, 1995 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death sentence (affirmed by Nevada Supreme Court, including 2022)
Thelma Davila, a 42-year-old casino worker, was picked up by Middleton in a light-colored pickup truck on August 5, 1994, and disappeared from her Sparks apartment on August 8, 1994. Her body was discovered April 9, 1995, in Sierra Nevada mountains, bound in rope and tucked in a sleeping bag. Forensic evidence included her DNA on duct tape found in Middleton's storage unit and her blanket.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David; DAVID STEPHEN MIDDLETON v. WILLIAM GITTERE WARDEN (2022); Colorado prosecutors handling of murder case criticized
Offense date Aug 08, 1994, Sparks, Nevada
First-degree kidnapping of Thelma Davila
Washoe County, Nevada · Arrested Feb 23, 1995 · Convicted Convicted
Convicted of first-degree kidnapping in connection with Thelma Davila's abduction and murder.
SourcesDAVID STEPHEN MIDDLETON v. WILLIAM GITTERE WARDEN (2022)
Offense date Feb 03, 1995, Reno, Nevada
First-degree kidnapping of Katherine Powell
Washoe County, Nevada · Arrested Feb 23, 1995 · Convicted Convicted
Convicted of first-degree kidnapping in connection with Katherine Powell's abduction and murder.
SourcesDAVID STEPHEN MIDDLETON v. WILLIAM GITTERE WARDEN (2022)
Offense date Feb 03, 1995, Reno, Nevada
First-degree murder of Katherine Powell
Washoe County, Nevada · Washoe District Court · Arrested Feb 23, 1995 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death sentence (affirmed by Nevada Supreme Court, including 2022)
Katherine Powell, a 45-year-old elementary school teacher from Sun Valley, was kidnapped from her home February 3, 1995, and taken to Middleton's storage unit. Her body was found February 11, 1995, in a dumpster in Reno. Forensic evidence included bite marks on her left breast matching Middleton's teeth, and bite marks on a gag ball found in the storage unit matching the victim's teeth. Evidence indicated she was held in a modified refrigerator where she suffocated.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David; DAVID STEPHEN MIDDLETON v. WILLIAM GITTERE WARDEN (2022); Nevada Supreme Court rejects petition by David Middleton in murder case
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
2
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
1
Victims suspected
Active years
1989–1995
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
interstate
Accomplice
Yes
Education
some college
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CO
Montrose, Colorado
1993 – Apr 1994 · Cable television installer work
Montrose, Colorado
Jun 25, 1993 – Apr 1994 · Moved to Montrose after early release from prison; claimed to be in witness protection
FL
Miami, Florida
Jan 25, 1982 – Dec 12, 1990 · Miami Metro-Dade Police Department, detective in Warrants Bureau
Miami, Florida
Nov 19, 1989 – Nov 19, 1989 · Arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault
Miami, Florida
Oct 11, 1990 – Oct 11, 1990 · Arrested for rape of 16-year-old
Miami, Florida
Jun 1991 – 1993 · Florida prison for false imprisonment and battery conviction; served approximately 2 years of 5-year sentence
MA
Boston, Massachusetts
1980 – 1982 · Boston Police Department, police cadet
Boston, Massachusetts
1980 – 1982 · Attended college while working as police cadet
MS
Greenville, Mississippi
Nov 18, 1990 – Nov 18, 1990 · Arrested after fleeing Miami arrest
NV
Sparks, Nevada
Apr 1994 – Feb 23, 1995 · T.C.I. Cable company, cable television installer; address listed as 1425 Carlin Street, northeast Reno
Sparks, Nevada
Apr 1994 – Feb 23, 1995 · Moved to Sparks with girlfriend Evonne Haley
Washoe, Nevada
Feb 23, 1995 – Feb 23, 1995 · Arrested in connection with kidnapping and murder of Katherine Powell and Thelma Davila
Nevada
Feb 23, 1995 – present · Nevada death row; initially High Desert State Prison (pre-2024), transferred to Ely State Prison, then returned to High Desert State Prison in September 2024
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1994 Light-colored International Harvester – Pickup truck, old model
approx. 1994 – 1995
Used in abductions and victim disposal; registered to Middleton; video evidence showed him loading package into truck; storage unit access recorded multiple visits.
1990 Unknown Unmarked police car – Miami-Dade police vehicle
approx. 1990 – 1990
Used while off-duty in uniform to sexually assault 16-year-old girl
Timeline
Jun 25, 1961
David Stephen Middleton born in Boston, Massachusetts.
Jan 15, 1980
Middleton hired as police cadet by Boston Police Department while attending college.
Jan 20, 1982
Middleton resigned from Boston Police Force.
Jan 25, 1982
Middleton joined Miami Metro-Dade Police Department and was promoted to detective in Warrants Bureau within first year.
1989
Middleton raped a woman who worked for Miami-Dade police by coercing consensual sex then assaulting her at his home with a machete.
Nov 19, 1989
Middleton arrested in Miami for kidnapping and sexual assault.
Sep 29, 1990
Middleton, while off-duty in uniform, sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in his unmarked police car.
Oct 11, 1990
Middleton arrested in Miami for rape of the 16-year-old.
Nov 18, 1990
Middleton arrested in Greenville, Mississippi after fleeing Florida.
Dec 12, 1990
Middleton resigned from Miami Metro-Dade Police Department.
Jun 1991
Middleton convicted of false imprisonment and battery, sentenced to two concurrent 5-year sentences.
Jun 25, 1993
Middleton released from prison after serving 2 years and moved to Montrose, Colorado.
Nov 21, 1993
18-year-old Buffy Rice Donohue disappeared from Montrose, Colorado after being picked up by Middleton's girlfriend; Middleton remains prime suspect but was never charged.
Apr 1994
Middleton and girlfriend Evonne Haley left Montrose and moved to Sparks, Nevada.
Aug 08, 1994
Thelma Davila, a 42-year-old casino worker, disappeared from her apartment in Sparks after being with Middleton; Middleton requested upgrade to storage unit same day.
Feb 03, 1995
Middleton kidnapped Katherine Powell, a 45-year-old elementary school teacher, from her home in Reno and took her to his storage unit.
Feb 11, 1995
Katherine Powell's body found in a dumpster in Reno with blunt force trauma.
Feb 23, 1995
Middleton arrested in Washoe County, Nevada in connection with kidnapping and murders of Katherine Powell and Thelma Davila.
Apr 09, 1995
Thelma Davila's body found by dog walker in Sierra Nevada mountains, bound in rope and sleeping bag.
May 24, 1995
Body of Buffy Rice Donohue discovered in Colorado with blunt force trauma; cause of death ruled murder by coroner.
Aug 11, 1997
Middleton's murder trial began in Washoe County with jury selection.
Aug 26, 1997
Jury found Middleton guilty of first-degree murder of Thelma Davila and Katherine Powell, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, grand larceny, and fraudulent use of credit card.
Sep 15, 1997
Middleton sentenced to death for two counts of murder and related offenses by Washoe County jury.
Nov 25, 1998
Nevada Supreme Court affirmed Middleton's conviction and death sentence.
Jun 19, 2009
Nevada Supreme Court upheld Middleton's death sentence in appeal.
Dec 02, 2022
Nevada Supreme Court rejected Middleton's petition for post-conviction relief and affirmed conviction and death sentence.
Sep 2024
Middleton transferred from Ely State Prison to High Desert State Prison as part of male death row inmate transfer.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Middleton, David“Timeline of David Stephen Middleton's life events, arrests, charges, convictions, and suspected crimes from 1961 through 2010.”
Other government record · Wikipedia ·
High Desert State Prison (Nevada)“Since September 2024, the men's death row is located at High Desert State Prison; Nevada death row inmates were transferred from Ely State Prison to High Desert in September 2024.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
David Stephen Middleton“Convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of two women in Nevada committed in 1994 and 1995; is prime suspect in at least one additional murder in Colorado and rapes while serving in Miami-Dade Police Department.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
David Stephen Middleton“Sentenced to death on September 15, 1997 for murders of Reno schoolteacher Katherine Powell and Sparks casino worker Thelma Davila.”
Court record · Nevada Supreme Court ·
DAVID STEPHEN MIDDLETON v. WILLIAM GITTERE WARDEN (2022)“Jury found Middleton guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of grand larceny, one count of fraudulent use of a credit card, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm; jury sentenced Middleton to death for each murder.”
News report · Nevada Appeal ·
Nevada Supreme Court rejects petition by David Middleton in murder case“Middleton kidnapped the two women and held them captive in a storage unit, later locking one of them in a modified refrigerator where she suffocated.”
News report · Nevada Appeal ·
Supreme Court upholds death sentence in Middleton case“Nevada Supreme Court upheld Thursday the death sentence imposed on David Middleton by a Reno jury; Middleton was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Katherine Powell and Thelma Davila.”
News report · Reno News & Review ·
Code of silence“Upon his early release from prison, Middleton moved to Montrose, Colorado, where he convinced acquaintances that he was in witness protection; in November 1993, Buffy Rice Donohue went missing after reportedly getting into Middleton's car.”
News report · Las Vegas Sun ·
Colorado prosecutors handling of murder case criticized“Buffy Rice Donohue was last seen November 21, 1993 getting into a car driven by Middleton's girlfriend; her skeletal remains were found 1.5 years later bound and gagged with a severe blow to the head.”
Court record · Nevada Supreme Court ·
MIDDLETON v. STATE (1998)“Middleton was validly convicted of murders and kidnappings; jury found aggravators including prior violent felony convictions and torture of victim.”
News report · Las Vegas Sun ·
Colorado increases probe of ex-cop in girls murder“David Middleton is the prime suspect in the November 1993 abduction and murder of Buffy Rice Donohue of Montrose, Colorado; no charges have been filed in the case.”
News report · Las Vegas Sun ·
Former cop found guilty on all counts in two killings“Middleton was charged in Florida with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old woman while on duty as a Dade County police officer in 1990; he pleaded guilty to battery and false imprisonment after his trial resulted in a hung jury.”
Discussion
Casual discussion about this record on the community forum. The facts live on this page: to add a place, a vehicle or a source, use the Edit record button under the photo so a moderator can review it. Please name no one else, never name a victim, and do not connect the person to any case not listed here.Open the topic on the forum
Corrections and removal. If a charge on this page has been dismissed, acquitted, overturned, pardoned or expunged, or any fact is wrong, tell us through the correction form. Corrections are free, reviewed within five business days, and a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed. Information here may not be used for decisions about employment, housing, credit, insurance or any purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and never to harass, threaten or harm anyone. Where a source is an offender registry, that information is reproduced as of the date shown and is subject to the conditions of use of that registry.