Florida man who confessed to strangling two sex workers to death is a potential 'serial killer', cops say

The arrest of a Florida man who allegedly confessed to the murders of two sex workers may have stopped a potential 'serial killer' dead in his tracks.

Carlos Yadiel Baez-Nieves, 24, targeted 'the most vulnerable women,' Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a press conference Monday. 'Women who were transient, who traded sex for money.'

The 24-year-old allegedly confessed to killing the women in roughly the span of a month. 

He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and booked into jail.

'Our detectives' vigilance may have stopped a potential serial killer,' Mina said.

Baez-Nieves was identified as a suspect in the deaths of 41-year-old Fatia Flowers on March 4 and 44-year-old Nichole Daniels on April 17.

Carlos Yadiel Baez-Nieves, 24, confessed to strangling two sex workers to death and dumping their bodies at an intersection in Orlando

The body of Fatia Flowers, 41, was found in March, and was determined to have been strangled to death due to 'obvious trauma' on her neck

Nichole Daniels, 44, wound up dead around a month later. Both women were transient, both were drug users, and both were found naked or partially clothed, according to an affidavit

According to an affidavit, Baez-Nieves picked up Flowers and agreed to pay her $40 for sex before killing her and dumping her body at the intersection of Trevarthon Road and Harrell Road, just miles from his Orlando home.

The Medical Examiner's Office determined that Flowers, also known as Antonia Heath, was strangled to death due to obvious trauma on her neck.

Thirty-five days later, Daniels' naked body was found at the same intersection, having suffered the same neck trauma.

An investigation uncovered other similarities. Both victims had a history of drug use and both were found nude or nearly nude, according to an arrest affidavit. While they were based in the East Orlando area, neither woman had a permanent residence.

Witnesses told detectives that they noticed a suspicious vehicle near the gas station where Daniels was last seen alive.

As they combed through surveillance video, investigators found footage that showed Daniels climbing into a white Ford F-150 pickup the night before she was found dead.

License plate readers that were triggered nearby helped investigators determine the vehicle's license plate number.

A truck matching the one seen in the security video was found in a driveway in Orlando, roughly 1.6 miles from the intersection where the bodies were dumped. Its license plate number matched the one collected by the readers.

Witnesses told detectives that they had spotted a suspicious white pickup truck near the gas station where Daniels was last seen alive. It was later connected to Baez-Nieves

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said the 24-year-old's arrest may have stopped a potential 'serial killer' dead in his tracks

Both bodies were found at the intersection of Trevarthon Road and Harrell Road, just miles away from the trailer park where Baez-Nieves lived

The man managed to sell the vehicle to a couple, 'no doubt to get rid of it and any evidence,' according to Mina

The truck was later linked to Baez Nieves, who was attempting to sell it, 'no doubt to get rid of it and any evidence in the truck,' Mina said.

While he was being monitored by detectives, Baez-Nieves managed to sell the truck to a couple for $3,200, according to the affidavit.

The couple was pulled over by deputies and confirmed that they had purchased the vehicle from Baez-Nieves. It was seized and taken back to the Orange County Sheriff's Office for processing.

The same day, Baez Nieves was pulled over and charged with driving on a suspended driver's license. Once in custody, he 'ultimately confessed to the killing of both women,' Mina said.

Baez-Nieves admitted to picking the women up at different gas stations for the purpose of paying for sex, according to the affidavit.

He also confessed to strangling the women and dumping their bodies at the same intersection, but detailed different circumstances leading to their deaths.

Baez-Nieves claimed a fight ensued over Daniels 'possibly taking money from his wallet'. He alleged she attacked him first.

'While choking her, she went limp. Carlos Baez-Nieves said he originally thought that Nichole Daniels went to sleep but then realized after he could not wake her that she was deceased,' the affidavit states.

'He drove around and ultimately went to the intersection of Trevarthon and Harrell roads, where he pushed her out of the passenger door of his truck and onto the ground. He then drove away and went home.'

The 24-year-old claimed that Flowers died after 'rough' sex inside his car. 

'He described initially that he was "choking" her during their sexual encounter, and she got off of him, made some weird movements, but then got back on top of him before passing out,' the arrest affidavit reads.

'Once she went lifeless, he did not know what to do. He said he drove around and eventually pushed her out of the vehicle at Trevarthon and Harrell Road.'

Arrest records show the 24-year-old was booked into Orange County Jail on April 26 and held without bond.

The sheriff said Baez-Nieves, who is originally from Puerto Rico, carefully selected victims 'he thought wouldn't be missed'

Sex workers are often the target of serial killers, such as in the Gilgo Beach slayings. Long Island man Rex Heuermann has been charged in connection to four of the murders

Baez-Nieves settled in Central Florida in 2020 and lived in a trailer park at the time of his arrest. It is unclear whether he has a criminal record in his native Puerto Rico.

As neighbors reacted to news of his arrest, one woman claimed she was 'afraid of him' and was glad to know he was behind bars.

In a statement, Sheriff Mina restated his belief that detectives had prevented Baez-Nieves from 'becoming a prolific serial killer'.

'He clearly targeted women he thought wouldn’t be missed,' Mina said.

'He murdered them and dumped them on the side of the road like trash. But our detectives knew that Fatia and Nichole’s lives were meaningful - and that they are worthy of justice.'

Sex workers have long been a target of serial killers, and the issue was reignited amid an investigation into the Gilgo Beach slayings.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was charged last July with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder.

The Long Island man is accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello between 2009 and 2010.

Heuermann was also named as the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes and charged in connection to her death in January. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The four women were among at least 10 victims whose bodies were found in the area.