Denise Hayes, a 41-year-old woman from Orlando, FL, was tragically found dead on August 24, 2018. Her body was discovered inside a home where she was caring for her two young grandchildren, aged 2 and 3. The children were found wandering alone in the street, leading a concerned neighbor to call 911. Upon investigation, deputies found Hayes' body inside the home, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Hayes and her partner, Bobby Lee Story, were squatting in the vacant home at the time of her death. Hayes, an African American woman, had been in a relationship with Story for about a year, during which there was a history of domestic violence.
Bobby Lee Story, a 57-year-old man with a lengthy criminal history, was identified as the primary suspect in Hayes' murder. Story had spent 28 years in state and federal prison for various convictions, including burglary, grand theft, and armed robbery. Shortly after Hayes' death, Story fled the area but was later arrested in Tampa for an unrelated attempted murder charge. During the investigation into Hayes' death, detectives found Story's fingerprints at the crime scene and obtained witness statements indicating that Story had confessed to the murder. He was also found in possession of a diaper bag belonging to Hayes, further linking him to the crime.
In November 2022, Story was formally charged with second-degree murder in connection with Hayes' death. The Orange County Sheriff's Office reopened the case earlier that year, leading to the new charges. Witnesses reported that Story had a history of threatening Hayes and had previously attacked her. Hayes' daughters recounted incidents of violence, including one where Story stabbed a relative who tried to intervene during an assault. Despite Story's claims of innocence, the evidence against him, including forensic analysis of discarded clothing containing both his and Hayes' DNA, led to his arrest and subsequent charges.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the challenges faced by law enforcement in bringing perpetrators to justice. Hayes' death left her family and community grieving, and the ongoing legal proceedings against Story aim to provide some measure of justice for her untimely death.
