GRANT RUFFIN HAYES III | Laura Ackerson was murdered, dismembered, beheaded and dumped in a creek | Woman fed husband’s ex to alligators, tried to dissolve body in acid | LWOP | Autographed Letter, Signed

Grant Hayes. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Raleigh, NC. August 12, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Grant Ruffin Hayes III is a convicted murderer, currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of Laura Ackerson in 2011. Here’s a detailed report on the case:

Background: Laura Ackerson, aged 27 at the time of her death, was involved in a long custody dispute with Grant Hayes over their two children. The dispute culminated in her murder.

The Crime: In July 2011, Laura Ackerson was killed and dismembered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her remains were later found in Texas, where they had been transported and disposed of to conceal the crime.

Conviction and Sentencing: Grant Ruffin Hayes III and his wife, Amanda Hayes, were both convicted for their roles in the murder. Grant Hayes was sentenced to life in prison, and as per the latest records, he is incarcerated at the Caledonia Correctional Institution in Halifax County, North Carolina. Amanda Hayes was initially sentenced to 13 to 16 years in prison but received an additional 20 years for tampering with evidence.

Notable Aspects of the Case: The case garnered significant media attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime and the fact that Ackerson’s body was fed to alligators after an attempt to dissolve it in acid. The trial revealed a premeditated and calculated effort to dispose of Ackerson’s body, which included dismemberment and cross-state transportation.

Laura Ackerson's body was disposed of in a particularly gruesome manner. After her murder, her body was dismembered using a power saw. The remains were then placed in ice chests and transported approximately 1,200 miles (about half the width of the United States) away to Texas. To ensure the body would not be found, her killers, Grant and Amanda Hayes, dumped the dismembered parts into Oyster Creek. They initially tried to use muriatic acid to destroy the body, but when that method failed, they resorted to disposing of the remains in the creek, hoping that alligators would consume them. A machete, which was used in the dismemberment process, was later found in a boathouse near where some of her remains were discovered. This method of disposal was part of the evidence that led to the conviction of both Grant and Amanda Hayes for the murder of Laura Ackerson.

Current Status: As of the last update, Grant Hayes remains in prison, serving his life sentence. The case remains a tragic example of the extremes to which custody disputes can escalate and the devastating impact such disputes can have on all involved parties.

Motive

The motive behind Laura Ackerson’s murder was primarily related to a contentious custody battle over her two sons with Grant Hayes. Prosecutors argued that Grant Hayes lured Ackerson to her death by exploiting her love for their children. The relationship between Ackerson and Hayes had been described as volatile, and both Hayes and his wife, Amanda, wanted Ackerson to have minimal contact with the children, which is believed to be the motivation for the murder.

Ackerson had lost custody of the children in 2010 and was actively fighting to get them back when she was killed. The crime was premeditated, as Laura was lured to Hayes’ apartment under the pretense of discussing the ongoing custody issues, where she was subsequently murdered. The case highlights the tragic extremes to which domestic disputes can escalate and the devastating consequences they can have.

Relationship During the Investigation

During the murder investigation of Laura Ackerson, the relationship between Grant Ruffin Hayes III and Amanda Smith Hayes was complex and became increasingly strained. Initially, they presented a united front, but as the investigation progressed, cracks began to appear in their relationship.

Key Points of Their Relationship During the Investigation:

United Against Allegations: In the early stages, both Grant and Amanda Hayes appeared to support each other against the allegations of murder.

Separate Trials: They were tried separately, and during their trials, the nature of their relationship became a point of interest. Prosecutors suggested that Amanda was complicit in the murder, which occurred at their Raleigh apartment during a long-running custody dispute over Grant’s children with Laura Ackerson.

Divorce Proceedings: After their convictions, Amanda filed for an “absolute divorce” from Grant, indicating a breakdown in their marriage following the investigation and trial.

The investigation revealed that the couple had worked together to commit the crime and dispose of the body, but the stress and gravity of the legal proceedings seemed to have taken a toll on their relationship. By the time of their convictions, it was clear that their relationship had deteriorated significantly, culminating in Amanda’s decision to divorce Grant. This divorce request came after both had been found guilty and were facing long prison sentences for their roles in the murder.

VIDEO: Grant & Amanda Hayes: Fed to the Gators | https://youtu.be/68mNhfB2YE

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