CHARLOTTE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING PROSTITUTE IN FLORIDA, VIA DNA EVIDENCE
Charlotte Alerts
Robert Hayes, 37, was arrested on first-degree murder charges relating to the death of 32-year-old Palm Beach County, FL woman Rachel Bey. Robert's arrest took place on September 15, 2019. DNA from Rachel's crime scene linked Robert to the murder.
Rachel has a prostitution record and has many arrests. Rachel was killed in March 2016. Robert lived in Charlotte, NC for several years before moving to Florida.
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Rachel's dead naked body was found on March 7, 2016 by a construction road crew, her body was dumped in a wooded area near Palm Beach County, FL. Rachel had been strangled to death; her jaw and teeth were broken.
Robert's DNA profile was recently run through a genetic database used by people trying to find long-lost relatives and a link to the suspect was established.
Florida investigators put Robert under surveillance. Robert was seen waiting for a bus and smoking a cigarette in September 2019, he threw the cigarette butt on the ground and got on a bus. The cigarette was collected by undercover officers and the DNA from it linked Robert to Rachel's killing.
Robert was then arrested on September 15.
Robert is 6-foot-4 and weighs 220 pounds. Robert is a chef in Florida. Robert attended Bethune-Cookman University. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice.