Man fires second lawyer in dismembering case

RALEIGH

Grant Hayes gave a letter to a Wake County judge Tuesday stating his court-appointed lawyer hasn't done what he's asked, and he wants a "black attorney from Durham."

The attorney told the judge he has an ethical conflict with Hayes. Hayes fired his first attorney earlier this year.

Hayes and his current wife - Amanda Perry Hayes - have been held without bond since their arrests in 2011.

According to warrants, detectives believe the couple killed 27-year-old Laura Ackerson in North Carolina and then dismembered her. The remains were driven to Texas and dumped in a swamp.

Investigators found several ice chests and said it's likely the coolers were used to transport the body parts in a rented U-Haul.

Amanda Hayes' family owns a home near where the body parts were found.

The motive for the alleged killing remains unclear.

Ackerson's 2006 white Ford Focus was found near an apartment building at 5400 Summit Manor Lane in north Raleigh. Ackerson, Hayes, and their children once lived at the complex and a woman living there told ABC11 Hayes' new home was not far away.

Ackerson and Hayes were involved in a custody battle over their children for more than a year. Hayes was granted primary custody of the children in 2010.

Classifieds | Report A Typo |  Send Tip |  Get Alerts | See Click Fix
Follow @abc11 on Twitter  |  Become a fan on Facebook

Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.