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Man indicted in strangulation deaths of 2 women in Orange County

Carlos Baez Nieves accused of killing Fatia Flowers, 41, and Nichole Daniels, 44

Carlos Yadiel Baez Nieves. (Orange County Sheriff's Office)

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A man arrested earlier this year in the deaths of two woman in Orange County has been indicted for first-degree murder, according to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office.

Carlos Baez Nieves, 25, is accused of killing Fatia Flowers, 41, and Nichole Daniels, 44. Orange County Sheriff John Mina characterized Baez Nieves as a potential “prolific serial killer” after his arrest on April 26.

“I’m very confident because of our detectives’ relentless efforts in this case that they stopped Baez Nieves from becoming a prolific serial killer,” Mina said. “He targeted women he clearly thought would not be missed.”

Mina said that Flowers and Daniels were transients who Baez Nieves offered money for sex then strangled, leaving their bodies “on the side of the road like trash” near the intersection of Trevarthon and Harrel roads. Flowers’ body was found on March 13 and Daniels’ was found April 17, according to investigators.

Mina said that Baez Nieves has confessed to the deaths. Deputies caught Baez Nieves when he tried to sell a Ford F-150, the same pickup truck that Daniels was reportedly seen getting into at a gas station on North Econlockhatchee Trail the night before she was found dead, according to the sheriff.

Baez Nieves was indicted Wednesday by an Orange County grand jury on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of tampering with physical evidence in a capital proceeding and one count of driving with a suspended license.

He’s being held without bond at the Orange County jail and his arraignment hearing is scheduled for July 2 in Orlando, court records show.


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