VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Volusia County jury reached a verdict in the case against an accused serial killer Tuesday.
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After two weeks of testimony and more than 10 hours of deliberation, the jury came back with a verdict of guilty on three counts of first-degree murder with a firearm for 39-year-old Robert Hayes.
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Investigators say Hayes killed at least three women between 2005 and 2006, and the jury agreed Tuesday.
The victims, Laquetta Gunther, Julie Green and Iwana Patton were each found in remote areas, shot with a 40 caliber Smith & Wesson.
Police said Hayes bought the same type of gun just weeks before the murders. They also tied him to the crimes with DNA evidence.
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Hayes’ defense tried to argue that there were tire tracks found at two of the crime scenes, and that Hayes didn’t have access to a car at the time of the murders.
They also pointed to the fact that a murder weapon was never found, and argued that the presence of Hayes’ DNA on the women- who worked as prostitutes- didn’t prove he killed them.
The jury disagreed and found that Hayes did in fact kill each victim and that the murders were planned in each case.
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The jury also had the option to convict on the lesser charges of manslaughter or second-degree murder.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Hayes. The penalty phase begins at 9 a.m. Monday.
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