‘Potential serial killer’ indicted for murder of 2 women in Orange County
A ‘potential serial killer’ arrested for strangling two women to death in Orange County was indicted for murder Wednesday, according to a press release from State Attorney Andrew Bain’s office.
Carlos Baez Nieves, 25, was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Fatia Flowers, 44, in March and Nichole Daniels, 41, in April.
He also was charged with two counts of tampering with physical evidence in a capital proceeding and driving with a suspended license. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday and his trial is set to start in September.
In a press conference after Baez Nieves’ April arrest, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said he had the makings of a “potential serial killer.” The FBI considers serial murder “the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events.”
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Police say Baez Nieves, on separate occasions, paid each woman for sex before strangling them and dumping their naked bodies on the side of the road near the intersection of Trevarton and Harrell roads in east Orlando.
He picked up both women from a 7-Eleven on Econlockhatchee Trail. Through witnesses, surveillance video and license plate readers, police were able to track him down. He was ultimately arrested April 26 while driving with a suspended license.
Orange County deputies questioned Baez Nieves about Daniels’ death after his arrest. He initially said he dropped her off alive at another location, but after police confronted him with evidence he eventually said he accidentally strangled her in an argument because he believed she’d stolen money from his wallet.
When asked about Flowers’ killing in March, he told police he accidentally strangled her while choking her during sex.
