DeLand therapist accused of shooting, killing man set to face trial next week

Client of DeLand therapist accused of murder

As the office building of a DeLand therapist accused of murder sits shuttered, a former spoke to FOX 35 News about his arrest.

DELAND, Fla. - A DeLand therapist, Travis McBride, 47, is set to face a jury more than a year and a half after he was arrested for first-degree murder.

According to the DeLand Police Department, in January 2024, McBride allegedly shot and killed Clinton Dorsey, 51, following a dispute. 

Detectives said his body was discovered in the trunk of McBride’s car.

His trial was supposed to begin earlier this year, but was pushed back due to logistical issues. 

Dorsey’s son, Trevor, said the wait has been a painful one as he reflects on his father’s impact.

 "I just have so many happy memories of him," Trevor said. "He taught me how to fish, work on cars, and how to be a father. [There are] a lot of lessons that I carry with me now."

Heather Milligan, Dorsey’s daughter-in-law said the family hopes next week will bring them closure. She said there is a possibility prosecutors offer a plea deal before then. "We’re hopeful that this will be the last time," she said. "That we’ll just be able to be done with that and put that part of it behind us."
Since the tragedy, Milligan has advocated for stronger requirements for healthcare workers.

"We need to have the best quality of care for everyone," she said.

Florida’s new "Cleared to Care" bill will strengthen the background checks for certain healthcare workers, including therapists. 

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Beginning July 1, they will have to undergo screening and fingerprinting in order to obtain, keep, or renew their license.

The State Attorney’s Office confirmed in 2017, McBride was arrested for Felony Domestic Battery. The charge was later downgraded to a misdemeanor, but under the language of the bill, a conviction is not necessary. This means, if Cleared to Care existed previously, his license could’ve been at risk.

A portion of the impending rules read as follows:

"All individuals subject to background screening must be confirmed to have not been arrested for and waiting final disposition of, been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, or been adjudicated delinquent and the record has not been sealed or expunged for, any of the following 52 offenses prohibited under Florida law…" 

Trevor Dorsey said the law is long overdue.

"You’ve got to be able to trust those people," he said. "Your life is in their hands."

McBride’s trial is scheduled for Monday.