Elizabeth Hernandez, a 51-year-old woman from Fort Pierce, FL, was brutally murdered on September 8, 2014, during an armed home invasion and robbery. Hernandez was found lying in a pool of blood inside her home on Sunrise Boulevard. She had been stabbed 29 times, mostly in the neck area, and had defensive wounds indicating she put up a fight. The attack was part of a robbery orchestrated by Ray Williams and Keith Canty, both residents of Fort Pierce.
Aaron Holmes, a 30-year-old man who was with Hernandez at the time, was shot twice in the head as he fled the house but survived the initial attack.
The investigation revealed that Williams and Canty had entered Hernandez's home with the intent to rob. Holmes, who knew Williams, initially thought it was a joke when they demanded he and Hernandez get undressed and lie on the floor. However, the situation quickly turned violent when weapons were drawn. Holmes managed to escape but was shot in the back of the head twice. Despite his injuries, he reached a neighbor's house for help. Hernandez, however, was left mortally wounded inside her home.
Both suspects were arrested shortly after the incident. Williams was apprehended the same day, while Canty was arrested ten days later. The case went through a lengthy legal process, involving multiple defense lawyers and judges, and numerous continuances. In a trial that began on September 27, 2023, both men were convicted of multiple felonies. Canty was found guilty of first-degree murder with a weapon, attempted murder, and two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to three consecutive life terms. Williams was convicted of manslaughter with a weapon, attempted manslaughter, two counts of robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, tampering with evidence, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. His sentencing was scheduled for December 6, 2023.
Melina Dennis, a 44-year-old woman, was also implicated in the crime. She admitted to driving Williams and Canty to Hernandez's home but claimed she was unaware of their robbery plan. Dennis later helped investigators recover items stolen from Hernandez's home that Williams had burned and buried behind an abandoned house. She was charged as an accessory after the fact and for tampering with evidence.
The brutal nature of the crime and the lack of remorse shown by the perpetrators, particularly Canty, who reportedly said he enjoyed killing Hernandez, left a lasting impact on the community and the victim's family. The case highlighted the violent nature of home invasions and the severe consequences for those involved.
