By BOB HIGH
Columbus CountyÕs first homicide of 2006 was recorded Saturday when Mickey Ray Hayes, 59, of Peanut Worley Road south of Cerro Gordo, was killed by a single shotgun blast to the head.
SheriffÕs detectives were called to the scene at 9:30 p.m. and stayed at the singlewide mobile home until 4:30 a.m. trying to reconstruct the crime. Detective Capt. Bobby Benton reports they are following several leads in attempting to make an arrest.
Hayes, retired from the U.S. Navy, had been living alone in the mobile home about two years. He was found by Stacy Lane Strickland, 35, of Cerro Gordo, who went by the residence shortly after 9 p.m. and noticed HayesÕ front door was open.
Strickland, who had been repairing the gas tank on HayesÕ pickup truck, went to the door and saw the victim sprawled face down on the living room floor. A TV set was on, but no other activity was noticed.
Strickland quickly drove to a nearby neighborÕs home and alerted authorities.
Benton said Hayes apparently lived by himself and asked that anyone with information about Hayes or the shooting call the detectivesÕ office at 642-6551.
A person who wants to provide information and does not wish to be identified can call CrimeStoppers at 1-800/531-9845 where a reward of up to $5,000 can be obtained for assistance in solving the crime.
HayesÕ death is the 14th homicide in the past 10 months as 13 deaths were recorded in 2005 with the first on March 16. See obituary, page 9-A.
