A Chilling Crime Shakes a Quiet Maryland Community

In a shocking turn of events that has devastated a close-knit Maryland community, William “Charlie” Hayes, 56, and his wife, Jeanna Hayes, 54, were found fatally shot in their Pasadena home on Sunday afternoon. The couple, who ran a home improvement business from their residence in the peaceful Long Point neighborhood about 15 miles outside Baltimore, were allegedly murdered by a business associate in what appears to be a dispute over money. Most disturbing was the 911 call that captured the final moments of the couple’s lives – Jeanna was heard pleading with someone she identified as “Tony” not to shoot her, followed by an argument about money between the assailant and Charlie before gunshots erupted. This harrowing audio evidence, combined with other investigative means, quickly led authorities to identify 61-year-old Anthony Louis Reyes, a friend and business associate of the couple, as the primary suspect in this senseless crime that has left family members and neighbors reeling just weeks before the holiday season.

The investigation moved swiftly after the bodies were discovered around 2 p.m. on Sunday. Using information from the 911 call and other evidence, detectives identified Reyes as their suspect, and his vehicle was detected by an automated license plate reader hours after the murders. What followed was a dramatic sequence of events – an officer attempted to pull Reyes over, but he allegedly resisted and fled, leading to a brief struggle that left the officer with minor injuries. After a seven-minute chase, police finally apprehended Reyes, who now faces first- and second-degree murder charges and is being held without bond. Anne Arundel County Police Lt. AJ Gardiner emphasized that this appears to be a targeted attack, though authorities have not officially released information about the motive. “This was a person who was known to the family, both personally and in business,” Gardiner explained, adding that the 911 call provides crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding the tragic shooting. “It’s unfortunate we weren’t here in time to prevent it, but the information that was relayed really led us to a position where we could start isolating other things.”

The ripple effects of this violence have extended throughout the Hayes family and their community. The couple’s adult granddaughter, who lived with them but wasn’t home during the shooting, now faces the unimaginable grief of losing her grandparents in such a violent manner. Toni Arnold, the father of this granddaughter, expressed his disbelief and heartbreak to reporters: “I just can’t believe somebody viciously murdered them in broad daylight. He didn’t deserve that. He took care of his wife; he took care of my daughter. It just breaks my heart.” These sentiments reflect the profound sense of loss felt by those who knew the couple, who by all accounts were caring family members whose lives were cut short in a moment of inexplicable violence that has left loved ones searching for answers and struggling to comprehend how such a tragedy could befall people they cherished.

The community’s reaction has been one of shock and fear, with neighbors like Kathy Nguyen recounting the chilling moments when the violence unfolded. Living just down the road from the Hayes residence, Nguyen recalled hearing “pop” noises that she initially mistook for hunters in the nearby woods. The gravity of the situation became apparent when emergency responders arrived at the scene: “Lights and sirens, and then they started running toward the house with rifles, and I thought whatever is going on is not good. And then when I heard about what happened, it shook me to my core.” This account captures the jarring intrusion of violence into what residents describe as a typically peaceful neighborhood – a place where families had already begun decorating for the holidays, where violent crime was virtually unheard of, and where neighbors knew each other well enough to notice when something was amiss. The contrast between the community’s tranquil character and the brutality of the crime has only intensified residents’ sense of disbelief and vulnerability.

Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad acknowledged the profound impact this crime has had on the community, describing it as “terribly horrific, especially right before the holiday season.” Awad’s comments highlight not just the tragedy of the murders themselves but their timing – coming at a moment when families typically gather in celebration, the Hayes family and their wider community now face a season marked by grief and loss. The Long Point area, characterized by waterfront homes, family houses, and cottages, has historically been a low-crime community, making this violent incident all the more shocking. “We are very surprised to get a call like this here,” Awad noted, emphasizing the unusual nature of such violence in this particular neighborhood. The Chief’s remarks reflect an understanding that beyond the immediate investigation and prosecution, there is a community in need of healing and reassurance that such violence is an anomaly rather than a new normal.

As the legal process against Anthony Louis Reyes begins, those who knew Charlie and Jeanna Hayes are left to grapple with the senselessness of their deaths and the void their absence leaves behind. The couple’s home improvement business connected them to many in the area, and their role as grandparents anchored their family. The fact that their alleged killer was someone they knew personally adds another layer of betrayal to an already devastating situation. Chief Awad’s words capture the collective sentiment of a community in mourning: “We know we have family members who are grieving tonight, and this entire community is grieving, and they are going to have to journey forward trying to make sense of what happened.” In the quiet waterfront community of Long Point, residents will need time to process this tragedy, support the Hayes family through their loss, and gradually restore their sense of safety in a neighborhood forever changed by one afternoon of violence. As the holiday decorations go up around Long Point, they now stand as poignant reminders of a season that will be marked by absence for those who knew and loved Charlie and Jeanna Hayes.