Serial killer Robert Hayes, 39 was convicted by a Volusia County Florida jury on Tuesday. DNA evidence led to his conviction of three murders committed in 2005 and 2006. 

During the time the charismatic Hayes attended Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, he had a secret life. Hayes was a popular student who received a degree in criminal justice. The former college cheerleader and band member killed multiple women during that time.

He was charged and convicted of first-degree premeditated murder. And the jury said Hayes was guilty of killing sex workers Laquetta Gunther, 45, Julie Green, 35, and Iwana Patton, 35.

DNA evidence and ballistics made the case

Hayes has also been charged in the 2016 death of a fourth woman, Rachel Bey, 32. State Attorney R.J. Larizza says they intend to seek the death penalty in the fourth case.

The serial killer was arrested in 2019 after Florida investigators ran a DNA profile from his latest victim, Rachel Bey through a genetic database. 

To confirm the DNA match, authorities surveilled the suspect. And collected a discarded cigarette butt.

 DNA from the discarded cigarette was also a match. It is linked to Bey’s crime scene. Investigators then followed the DNA trail to the three cold cases. And they also used ballistics analysis on the gun that Hayes still owned.

They collected a second sample from Hayes after his arrest, which was also a positive match.

An expert witness at Hayes’ trial claimed the chances the “recovered DNA wasn’t from Hayes was 1 in 3 septillions” Larizza argued.

“If we hadn’t put this individual in jail, he would’ve done this again and we would have had another victim,” Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. But Wallace also said that there could very well be more victims from Hayes’ past.

On Monday, a jury will take up the penalty phase in the three cold case murders. It would take a unanimous agreement to impose a death sentence. Otherwise, a judge will send Hayes to mandatory life in prison without parole.