[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 09/23/20]
EUSTIS, Florida — The man accused of stabbing at least one person early Saturday morning bonded out of the Lake County Jail in less than an hour Monday, according to LCJ online records.
Eustis Police responded to 2722 Grand Island Shores Road around 5:30 a.m. on a report of a stabbing. EPD arrived and found Casey Warren 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. 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 was in the restroom when she heard a commotion outside. She said she walked out to find 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 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 is 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.” Hays left to pick up his girlfriend and after he returned, they were drinking and smoking. The brothers confronted Hays over the “disrespectful” way he was talking to his girlfriend and Hays 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 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 they met by the front door, according to the affidavit. Hays began grabbing for something in his pants and 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 and saw Hays pacing through the window with a shotgun in his hand, according to the affidavit.
Both victims were unable to speak to EPD because they were being treated. A warrant was issued for Hays’ arrest and he was taken into custody Monday and transported to LCJ, where he was released on $10,000 bond. Hays could be facing additional charges, EPD Officer J. Allred told Lake Legal News Monday.
[Read the follow-up story here: https://www.lakelegalnews.com/article/man-accused-of-double-stabbing-bonds-out-on-first-charge-only-to-be-arrested-again-on-second/ ]
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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]
