[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 10/05/20]
EUSTIS, Florida — The man accused of stabbing two people last month was arrested a second time, just two days after his first arrest for the same incident; he has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Only Lake Legal News reported on the double stabbing and subsequent arrest of Casey Warren Hays last month in a normally quiet area of Eustis. Hays was arrested the first time on Sept. 21 and arrested the second time Sept. 23.
Shortly before sunrise Sept. 19, Eustis Police responded to 2722 Grand Island Shores Road on a report of a stabbing. Police arrived and found Hays, his girlfriend and one stabbing victim. They later learned a second victim was at AdventHealth Waterman getting treatment. That victim, who was suffering from four lacerations to his stomach and one to his hand, was eventually transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center for further treatment, according to a probable cause affidavit. The victim at the home was airlifted to Ocala Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Hays, 32, of Eustis first told responding EPD officers that the altercation was over his girlfriend, but then later said it was over marijuana; he then told EPD he did not want to say anything without his lawyer present, according to the affidavit. Hays is represented by James T. Reich of Ocala, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records.
The scene was spattered with blood, including on the driveway, front porch and inside the home. A black “tactical style” knife was found on the dining room table, and a kitchen knife was found in the laundry room; neither knife had blood on it, an EPD detective noted in the affidavit. A black and silver handgun was found on the couch, next to the stabbing victim who was still at the home when police arrived.
Hays’ girlfriend told police she went outside and found Hays curled up in a ball by a bush and two Hispanic males were “stomping” him. She said she helped Hays inside the house and the first victim ran inside with a towel covering his injury, according to the affidavit. The woman told police she did not see anyone with a knife and did not know how either victim got injured, but she did see Hays with a handgun tucked into his waistband earlier. The woman said she took the gun away from Hays and hid it in a closet, but he later got it back. She said Hays never threatened anyone with it and was carrying it around “to be cool,” the affidavit states.
The brother of the other stabbing victim, who was at AdventHealth Waterman with his brother, told EPD they ran into the first victim at a local restaurant in Mount Dora and they all agreed to go to a bar in Tavares. After drinking until closing time, the trio went to Hays’ house on Grand Island Shores Road and Hays appeared to be “extremely intoxicated.” The brothers confronted Hays over the “disrespectful” way he was talking to his girlfriend and Hays allegedly began walking around with the gun. The brother told EPD the girlfriend took the gun from Hays, but he returned with a shotgun and said, “I ain’t got problems, it’s whatever. If I go out, I’m taking everyone with me,” the affidavit states.
The brother wanted to leave, he told EPD, but the first stabbing victim convinced him to stay, and while they were in the backyard Hays allegedly pushed the first victim down and went into the kitchen and retrieved a large silver knife. The brother of the second victim persuaded Hays to put down the knife and he and his brother began to walk to their truck to leave. Hays made an aggressive comment to the second victim and he told Hays to “(Expletive) off.” Hays ran around to the other side of the house and confronted the brothers and Hays began grabbing for something in his pants. The second victim punched Hays in the face and Hays punched the victim in the stomach with a “shiny object” in his hand. The brother broke up the fight and that is when he saw his brother had been stabbed in the stomach and Hays was holding the knife police found on the dining room table. The brothers left the home to get treatment.
Hays has bonded out of jail a second time, but if convicted of each aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge he will face a maximum of up to 30 years in prison.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
