TEQUESTA — A longtime police supervisor resigned and a second remains on paid leave in the wake of an investigation into the village's first homicide in two decades.

The two might have failed to preserve the crime scene properly, an attorney involved in the case said.


Michael Morrill, an operations lieutenant who also handled internal affairs investigations and media inquiries, left the department Thursday. He had been a village officer for more than 25 years.

Sgt. Zed Albrecht was placed on administrative leave when Tequesta police turned their investigation over to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. Albrecht joined the village police force more than 18 years ago.

Both men responded early Aug. 2 to a burglary call at James Fantin's house on Golfview Drive. They found Paul Mantwill, 41, lying outside, bleeding from two gunshot wounds to the chest.

Paramedics flew Mantwill to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he died about 8 a.m.

Sheriff's investigators now have a two-part case to unravel: whether Fantin should face charges in Mantwill's death, and whether Tequesta police mishandled the initial investigation.

Asked why police handed off the case to the sheriff's office, Tequesta police spokesman Peter Allen said, "They have more resources and more manpower. The case is a little more complicated than a man burglarizing and a guy shooting him."

The investigation into police actions also appears to be a little more complicated.

Mitchell Beers, an attorney representing Fantin, said investigators asked the Fantins for bleach and a broom on the morning of the shooting. When Beers' investigators later visited the Fantins' home, they saw blood spatter on the doors but no blood on the ground.

"The police might have cleaned some of that up," Beers said. "I'm sure there were pools of blood that were washed away."

Sheriff's and police officials declined to say how many police personnel, in addition to Morrill and Albrecht, were at the Fantin home that morning.

Morrill could not be reached for comment. Albrecht declined to speak about the case.

Sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller declined to comment on any details of the agency's investigation.

"We're looking at all aspects," he said. "Maybe some protocol wasn't followed."

Regarding the shooting, Miller said sheriff's investigators would consider interviews, physical evidence and any medical examiner's reports before handing their findings to the state attorney's office.

Beers maintains that Fantin was defending himself, his wife, Sabrina, and their 8-year-old son when he shot at Mantwill.

"I represent a very, very gentle man, a nice man who was terrified on that particular evening," Beers said.

Fantin may give investigators a walk-through explanation of how events unfolded, according to Beers.

"I'm very confused as to why a gentleman like Mantwill was at the house at 2:30 a.m. pulling on doors," Beers said.

Mantwill apparently lived at his parents' home on Yacht Club Place. His relatives could not be reached for comment.

Beers said the Fantins have been staying with family members since the incident, too distraught to return to their home.

When all else fails send in the Sheriff!