In outburst, accused hit-and-run killer confesses to unrelated murder

TAMPA (FOX 13) - A murder suspect was removed from a Tampa courtroom after he calmly claimed that he'd committed a separate crime during his competency hearing.

Tampa police detectives said Mikese Morse intentionally ran over and killed a father who was bicycling with his two sons in June. A judge ordered a mental health evaluation, but Monday morning’s hearing was delayed following the outburst.

During the hearing, Morse said, “I committed a murder…I needed to get this off my chest.” He calmly provided details saying he struck a man on a bicycle near the intersection of Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue between "12:30 and 4:30." Morse didn't specify whether the alleged crime occurred in the morning or afternoon, but said it occurred on June 12.

"You can see it on the Hard Rock Casino, and they are covering it up right now," Morse said. "I need to say this."

The judge is heard repeating, "You need to stop talking," as Morse continued his rant. The judge ordered him out of the courtroom, and Morse was then dragged out by two deputies.

Both the Florida Highway Patrol and Hillsborough Sheriff's Office said they were unable to find any record of such a crash.

FOX 13 reached out to Morse’s attorney, who said he knows of no other murder and its gibberish from a mentally ill client.  

Morse's mother, Khadeeja Morse, agreed. She says her son's rant is another example of his severe mental illness on display for everyone to see.

"What you saw in there may be a spectacle, but that is our son. That is our son," Khadeeja cried out. 

Khadeeja says she has been trying to get her son help for years, but she says the mental health system has failed him over and over. Even now, she claims, Mikese has not gotten any treatment in jail.

“Nine weeks now and no help. If he had diabetes, if he had a heart condition, if he had cancer, he would have treatment. “Why is it when he has a raging mental health condition, there's no treatment?”

Meanwhile, Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren said he will not seek the death penalty in the Morse case, citing a history of mental illness.