The chilling discovery of three women shot in the head and dumped within weeks of each other in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 2006, terrorized the city’s vulnerable population. Fear gripped the streets, prompting residents to meticulously record license plate numbers of suspicious individuals and report them to authorities. Then, as abruptly as it began, the string of killings ceased. For ten years, the case remained cold, the killer’s identity shrouded in mystery. Until now.
A decade later, the discovery of Rachel Bey’s strangled body along a road in West Palm Beach, 180 miles south of Daytona Beach, reignited the investigation. DNA and ballistics evidence linked Bey’s murder to the unsolved Daytona Beach killings, pointing definitively to a single perpetrator. Last week, authorities announced a breakthrough: the arrest of 37-year-old Robert Hayes, a former criminal justice major, charging him with Bey’s murder and naming him the prime suspect in the Daytona Beach cases.
A Decade of Silence: The Daytona Beach Killings
The first victim, 45-year-old Laquetta Gunther, was found on December 26, 2005, discarded between an auto parts store and a vacant utility building. Less than a month later, on January 14, 2006, the body of 34-year-old Julie Green was discovered on a dirt road at a construction site. The grim pattern continued with the discovery of 35-year-old Iwana Patton’s body on February 24, also on a deserted dirt road. All three women were found nude and face down, victims of execution-style killings. A fourth killing may also be connected.
The targeted nature of the attacks, focusing on women involved in prostitution, fueled a wave of panic within the community. Sex workers banded together, providing crucial information to detectives, including detailed descriptions of vehicles and license plates. Community outreach programs distributed flyers and safety kits, urging caution and emphasizing the importance of avoiding isolated areas, especially at night.
Lori Napolitano, chief of forensic services for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, addresses the media regarding the arrest of Robert Hayes.
At the time of the killings, Robert Hayes was a student at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, pursuing a degree in criminal justice. He graduated in 2006, the same year the murders abruptly stopped. He also held a security guard license. Authorities confirmed that Hayes was questioned during the initial investigation due to a firearm purchase resembling the murder weapon, but insufficient evidence prevented an arrest.
A Cold Case Reopened: The Rachel Bey Murder
The case remained dormant for ten years until the discovery of Rachel Bey’s body on March 7, 2016, near West Palm Beach. Bey, known to have been involved in prostitution, was last seen alive walking along Dixie Highway near Hayes’ residence. Her body was found strangled, with severe injuries to her jaw and teeth, indicating a brutal attack.
The DNA evidence retrieved from Bey’s body provided the crucial link connecting her murder to the unsolved Daytona Beach killings, reigniting the investigation and focusing attention on finding the elusive perpetrator.
Genetic Genealogy and a Breakthrough
Lori Napolitano, chief of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s forensics department, revealed that the DNA profile from the crime scenes was recently entered into a genealogical database used to trace family lineages. This search yielded a connection to Robert Hayes, placing him squarely in the investigators’ crosshairs.
Under surveillance, Hayes unknowingly discarded a cigarette butt, providing a DNA sample that further solidified the link to the murders. A subsequent DNA sample taken after his arrest confirmed the match, with astronomical odds placing him as the perpetrator.
Justice Delayed, But Not Denied
“We believe we took a serial killer off the streets,” declared Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Capt. Michael Wallace during a press conference announcing Hayes’ arrest. The arrest brings a sense of closure to the families of the victims and the community haunted by these unsolved crimes for over a decade. The investigation continues, with authorities exploring the possibility of additional victims during the ten-year gap between the Daytona Beach killings and Rachel Bey’s murder. The focus now shifts to uncovering the full extent of Hayes’ alleged crimes and ensuring justice for all those affected.
The Unanswered Questions
While the arrest of Robert Hayes marks a significant breakthrough, questions still linger. What motivated a criminal justice graduate to allegedly commit such heinous acts? What activities occupied him during the ten-year hiatus between the Daytona Beach killings and the murder of Rachel Bey? The investigation continues as authorities strive to piece together the complete picture of these tragic events and seek justice for the victims.
This case underscores the power of forensic science and genetic genealogy in solving complex crimes, providing hope that even the coldest cases can eventually be brought to light. As the legal process unfolds, the families of the victims and the community can finally begin to heal and find a measure of peace.
