Maryland man charged in slaying of married couple inside their Anne Arundel County home

Married couple found dead inside Maryland home; suspect in custody

An Anne Arundel County community was left stunned after the murder of a married couple inside their Pasadena home.

PASADENA, Md. - Anthony Luis Reyes, 61, of Nottingham, Maryland was held without bond Monday morning, now facing two counts of First-Degree Murder and a number of other related charges in connection with the slaying of a Pasadena couple, while inside their home. 

What we know:

The fatal double homicide took place in the middle of the day Sunday, which was also the suspect's birthday. 

Police identified the victims as William Hayes, 56, and his wife, Jeanna Hayes, 54. The horrific scene unfolded inside the victims' Twickenham Road home just before 2 p.m. Sunday. Within five hours, police made an arrest, aided by a 9-1-1 call from inside the couple’s home and information later, separately relayed to police by an unnamed witness.

Anthony Reyes (Anne Arundel County Police)

Court documents obtained Monday revealed it was the wife who called 9-1-1. On that call, dispatcher was able to hear the victim repeatedly ask a "Tony" not to shoot her. Court documents also read: "The suspect male can be heard talking to another male who he calls 'Charle' and a verbal dispute over money is recorded." 

Investigators describe two different moments of gunfire heard on the call, before those voices are no longer heard. 

That dispatch call recording was shared with investigators, who also say at around 4 p.m., they then received a call from an unnamed witness. According to investigators, that witness told the dispatcher they spoke to an "Anthony Reyes" who had called the witness and admitted to shooting the victims and then stated he was going to "Maryland Live," a casino. 

The witness told police the suspect was in a Black Toyota sedan with Mississippi tags, also providing the tag number.

Dig deeper:

Investigators say the suspect had both a personal and business relationship with the couple, who ran a home improvement construction-type company out of their Pasadena, MD home. Police on Sunday said the motive was not immediately clear but wanted to at least inform the community of an arrest and that this was not a random attack. 

"This is a community where neighbors become family, so it was important for us to share with them. We know they are dealing with grief. Our hearts go out to them," said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad. 

"You've got to applaud the officers and the investigators for getting the information, but also the citizens. And I got to say something too ... you know when it comes to the 9-1-1 call, that was fantastic. And it was unfortunate that we didn't get here in time to prevent it, but the information that was relayed on that one really led us into a position that we could start isolating other things," AACP's Lt. A.J. Gardiner also said Sunday, without going into further detail on the emergency calls at the time. 

With significant information from dispatchers, Anne Arundel County police say investigators were able to use their Automated License Plate Reader technology and their Real Time Information Center to track down the suspect's car in Hanover, a little before 6:30 p.m. Sunday. However, investigators say the suspect fled, and a pursuit began, lasting for a few minutes before ending by Route 97 and Quaterfield Rd. 

Authorities described an altercation before Reyes was taken into custody. An officer injured is said to be okay. Police say Reyes was taken to get checked out before initially charged. 

What's next:

A preliminary hearing was not immediately set Monday's court appearance. An attorney representing Reyes told a county district judge Reyes intended to waive the issue of bail and request a preliminary hearing. Reyes was told he would need to apply for the public defender service. "I didn't receive nothing'," Reyes replied, when the judge asked whether the suspect had been given paperwork outlining his charges. 

READ MORE: Pasadena home shooting: married couple found dead