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Years later, Orange County family still searching for answers in murder of grandmother

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County family is searching for answers and calling for justice in the murder of a 41-year-old grandmother.

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The body of Denise Hayes was discovered in 2018 after two of her grandchildren were found wandering the streets alone.

Four years later, no one has been charged.

At the time, deputies almost immediately announced the suspect as her boyfriend, Bobby Story. A few weeks later, he was arrested in Tampa on an unrelated attempted murder case.

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Story was sent to state prison on a lesser charge, but he’s set to be released in December. So far, no one has been charged in Hayes’ death.

“For somebody to do that someone actually kind of get away with it. It’s kind of hurtful,” said Hayes’ daughter, Jade Hayse.

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The sheriff’s office said a case packet was sent to the state attorney’s office last July. Detectives are still working diligently to find more evidence to present to the state’s attorney’s office.

The family is hoping something can be done to bring justice.

“Just sorry’s and prosecutors (don’t) want to take the case,” said Donyea Hayes, the victim’s daughter. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.

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