Deputies protect woman being chased by armed man who'd threatened to kill her

The suspect broke into the woman's home with a tire iron after sending her text messages saying he was coming to kill her, according to deputies.


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  • | 7:40 a.m. April 5, 2021
Aaron Thayer. (Photo courtesy of the FCSO)
Aaron Thayer. (Photo courtesy of the FCSO)
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Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies on April 2 protected a woman from an armed man who'd threatened to kill her. 

The Flagler County Communication Center received a 911 call from the victim reporting that she had received multiple threatening text messages from her estranged boyfriend, Aaron Thayer, 39.

FCSO deputies arrived at the victim’s residence, where the victim showed multiple text messages that had been sent to her by Thayer.

The text messages were graphic and threatening, making the victim fear for her life. 

When asked about Thayer’s current location, the victim stated that Thayer was in Connecticut for work, but that she believed he was on his way back to Florida to make good on his threats to end her life.

The victim further stated that Thayer had installed security cameras throughout the property to keep tabs on her while she was away.

The victim showed deputies where there were ‘blind spots’ and asked to speak to deputies there, because she believed Thayer was watching her as they investigated her call for help. 

While deputies were speaking to the victim, she continued to get threatening text messages and phone calls from Thayer.

Deputies asked the victim to answer the phone so they could determine where Thayer was calling from.

While on the phone, deputies could hear Thayer ask the victim who was at the house with her and then told her he was on his way to kill her.

The phone call then ended and the victim disconnected the security cameras. 

FCSO detectives obtained a warrant for the arrest of Aaron Thayer for Sending Written Threats to Kill with nationwide extradition.

The FCSO Special Investigation Unit, Real Time Crime Center and other detectives began working to locate Thayer.

Detectives also contacted the U.S. Marshal’s Office to ask for assistance in locating Thayer as a fugitive after he tried to thwart FCSO’s investigative measurers to locate him. 

The victim declined FCSO’s offer of going to a safe location, and on April 3, deputies conducted multiple security checks on the victim’s residence.

Just after 3 p.m., the victim called 911 and told dispatchers that Thayer was trying to break into the house with a tire iron.

Thayer made forced entry through the back door, threatening to kill her.

He then entered her bedroom, took $400 from within the home, grabbed a firearm that was on the victim’s nightstand, cocked it, and began chasing after the victim, threatening to kill her. 

FCSO deputies were nearby on another call and immediately responded.

As deputies were arriving on the scene, the victim fled the home, with Thayer chasing her.

Deputies protected the victim by having her hide behind their patrol car and confronted Thayer and tried to take him into custody. Thayer was not compliant, and was tased.

Once secured, he was searched and a loaded handgun was found in the waistband of his jeans, along with a folding knife. 

“This guy told the victim he was going to kill her, and less than 24 hours later he had driven all night and was at her door to kill her," Sheriff Rick Staly said. "I am so thankful that my deputies were able to intercept this guy, and used their training, tactics and de-escalation techniques before he was able to hurt anyone. They handled a very volatile and dangerous situation by running toward danger to protect the victim. This situation that could have had an entirely different outcome with either the victim, suspect or deputies injured or killed if not for the heroic efforts of our deputies.” 

Thayer was arrested and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.

He is charged with Written Threats to Kill, Attempted Premeditated Murder with a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Petit Theft and Resisting Arrest without Violence.

He is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Detention Facility on no bond. 

Video of the arrest (warning: video contains profanity) can be seen here: https://youtu.be/14YwXRrLkkYhttps://youtu.be/14YwXRrLkkY.

 

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