Jerry Vinson Hayes, a 77-year-old man from Taylorsville, NC, passed away unexpectedly on August 9, 2018. He was born on May 17, 1941, in Iredell County and was known for his love of hunting and the outdoors. Hayes was a devoted family man, leaving behind five sons, 33 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren. His death was a significant loss to his community and family.
The investigation into Hayes' death revealed that he had been beaten and shot.
His body was discovered in a wooded area off Robinette Road in the Little River Community. Initially, it was believed that he had been deceased for approximately three days before being found. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head and a gunshot wound to the chest.
Randy Darryl Shumake, a 51-year-old man from Hiddenite, was identified as the suspect in Hayes' murder. Shumake had a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for assault, breaking and entering, and second-degree rape. Investigators were able to track Shumake's movements around the time of the murder using a tracking device he was required to wear. Shumake was arrested on August 10, 2018, and charged with first-degree murder.
In November 2023, Shumake pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case brought some closure to Hayes' family and the community, although the loss of Jerry Vinson Hayes remains deeply felt.
