'Potential serial killer' arrested for allegedly strangling 2 homeless women and dumping their bodies

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- Deputies recently arrested a potential "prolific serial killer" after he allegedly fatally strangled two homeless women and then dumped their bodies from his truck.

According to Orange County Sheriff John Mina, on March 14, investigators found the body of 41-year-old Fatia Flowers along an intersection. On April 17, officials located the remains of another female victim, 44-year-old Nichole Daniels, within the same area.

During the investigation, detectives reportedly obtained surveillance footage from a nearby 7-Eleven revealing Daniels entering a white Ford F-150. According to Mina, authorities discovered the truck belonged to 25-year-old Carlos Yadiel Baez-Nieves. Mina claims Baez-Nieves was trying to sell the vehicle to get rid of potential evidence.

Mina said officials arrested Baez-Nieves for driving with a suspended license. During an interview, Baez-Nieves reportedly confessed to killing the two women, but he initially claimed they died during "rough sex" and that the women attacked him first.

The sheriff’s office alleges Baez-Nieves had sex with the victims and fatally strangled them before pushing their lifeless bodies out of his truck and driving home.

Mina said the suspect targeted the "most vulnerable women he could target –– women who were transient and traded sex for money."

Baez-Nieves allegedly "murdered them and dumped them on the side of the road like trash," but Mina said his "detectives knew that Fatia and Nichole’s lives were meaningful and that they are worthy of justice."

Mina said the arrest "may have stopped a potential serial killer."

Baez-Nieves was booked into the Orange County Jail on two counts of first-degree murder.

MORE:

• OCSO Detective stop potential Serial Killer of vulnerable women - Orange County Sheriff's Office
• Sheriff John Mina updates the community of a significant case - Orange County Sheriff's Office