‘Potential serial killer’ accused of strangling 2 sex workers captured in Florida

"Potential serial killer" Carlos Yadiel Baez-Nieves was arrested after allegedly murdering the two women in March and April.

Florida authorities apprehended a potential serial killer who is accused of strangling two sex workers on separate occasions and then discarding their bodies like trash, as announced by a Sunshine State sheriff on Monday.

Sheriff John Mina of Orange County stated during a press conference that Carlos Yadiel Baez-Nieves allegedly committed the murders in March and April.

The body of first victim, Fatia Flowers, 41, was discovered on March 14, but her cause of death was not immediately clear.

The 25-year-old suspect allegedly picked up the women in his truck on two different occasions, engaged in sexual activity with them, and then carried out the killings, according to the law enforcement official. "Baez-Nieves then drove to an intersection and pushed their lifeless bodies out of his truck," Mina said.

The body of the first victim, Fatia Flowers, 41, was discovered on March 14, although her cause of death was not immediately apparent, according to Mina. Later, the body of Nichole Daniels, 44, was found in the same location on April 17. Detectives were able to locate surveillance footage showing Daniels entering a "very distinctive" white Ford F-150 pickup truck the night before her death, Mina mentioned.

Other women working in the area also reported seeing the truck.

The body of Nichole Daniels, 44, was found in the same location on April 17.

The Ford F-150 belonged to Baez-Nieves, who was initially arrested for driving with a suspended license, according to the top cop in Orange County. While in custody, he admitted to the murders of the two women, Mina stated.

The alleged perpetrator claimed that he engaged in "rough sex" with one victim, while the other victim allegedly attacked him first, Mina explained.

He praised his investigators for preventing a potential serial killer.

Detectives were able to track down surveillance footage that showed Daniels getting into a "very distinctive" white Ford F-150 pickup truck the night before she was found dead.

"I’m very confident that because of our detectives’ relentless efforts in this case, they prevented Baez-Nieves from becoming a prolific serial killer," Mina said. "He targeted women whom he clearly believed would not be missed. He murdered them and dumped their bodies on the side of the road like they were trash. However, I am very, very grateful and thankful for our great detectives who knew that Fatia’s and Nichole’s lives were meaningful and, of course, they deserve justice like all of us."

Baez-Nieves, who has resided in Florida since 2020, faces two first-degree murder charges and is currently detained. Mina stated that the sheriff’s office is investigating whether there could be additional victims in the state or in Puerto Rico, Baez-Nieves's place of origin.

"We’re very, very relieved that he’s behind bars now and cannot commit such acts again," Mina concluded.