Orange County Sheriff Announces Arrest of Suspected Serial Killer in Florida; Baez-Nieves Charged with Two Counts of First-Degree Murder

A suspected serial killer has been apprehended in Florida following the discovery of two females who were strangled to death, according to an announcement made by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Monday. Deputies claimed that Carlos Yadiel Baez-Nieves, a 25-year-old man, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of first-degree murder after being stopped during a traffic stop for driving with a suspended license last Friday. During an interview with detectives following his arrest, officials said that Baez-Nieves confessed to both murders having moved from Puerto Rico to Central Florida in 2020. Sheriff John Mina stated at a Monday morning press conference that because of the relentless efforts made by their investigators, they were able to stop Baez-Nieves before he could become an infamous serial killer. Authorities disclosed during a media briefing on Tuesday (9) how the 25 year old targeted vulnerable women who traded sex for money and strangled them after having sexual relations with them before dumping their bodies by the side of the road as if they were trash, according to Mina’s statement. Baez-Nieves allegedly picked up Fatia Flowers and Nichole Daniels on separate occasions approximately a month apart in order to have sex with both women prior to strangling them to death before driving their lifeless bodies to an intersection where he pushed them out of his truck, Mina said during the press conference. The discovery of both victims’ corpses at the same location sparked investigations that uncovered additional similarities including; being transient in the East Orlando area and having a history of narcotics usage as well as being found either naked or nearly so according to an arrest affidavit obtained by authorities. Sheriff Mina stated during Monday’s media briefing (9) how because he has been detained, communities are now safer from Baez-Nieves who targeted women that he thought would not be missed and murdered them before dumping their bodies as if they were trash like other transient women in the area. Authorities have stated that Baez-Nieves is being held without bail at Orange County Jail on two counts of first degree murder, but Mina warned during Monday’s press conference (9) how there may be additional victims and they are working to determine whether or not he was involved in any other incidents elsewhere in the country. Sheriff John Mina said that given Baez-Nieves killed two women within a month period, it is clear evidence of his serial killer tendencies; however, officials believe this man has demonstrated capabilities for murdering others and may have done so before, according to Monday’s (9) media briefing. “He targeted women who he clearly thought would not be missed,” Mina said during the press conference on Tuesday morning (9).