Candlelight vigil held at McKay park for Marqukis Hayes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The family of murder victim, 25-year-old Marqukis Hayes, held a candle light vigil Saturday evening at McKay park in Jefferson City.
Dozens of family and friends joined together to mourn the death of Marqukis Hayes. Hayes was murdered Monday afternoon in a black pickup truck at the Clark Lane McDonald's drive thru.
Hayes was in the back seat of of the truck accompanied by 29-year-old Angelica Benitez and her boyfriend. Benitez's boyfriend told police she shot Hayes in the face while they were in the McDonalds drive thru Monday at 1 p.m. He told police he didn't know why she shot him.
Benitez drove the pickup truck to the St. Louis area. Police found that truck in Valley Park with Hayes dead body in the back seat. Benitez then fled to Moberly where police arrested her at a home Thursday evening.
Police say Benitez admitted to shooting Hayes and moving the body.
In recent CPD press conference held on Friday, police say they did not know the relation of Hayes and Benetiz or her boyfriend.
Hayes sister, Ishmeak Turner, said Benitez's boyfriend was a friend of her brother. "The boyfriend was a friend of his. I don't really know why Benitez was with them, but I do know he went because because the boyfriend was a friend of his."
When asked if her brother knew Benitez well, Turner said,"Not that I know of. I don't think he knew her very well."
“I think Marqukis thought that that person was a friend of his but clearly he’s not, he’s not here today and he hasn’t contacted my mother or reached out to us or anything, so I don’t know how much of a friend you can actually say he was.” said Turner.
Turner said her brother was a caring and loving person that did not deserve this, and he leaves behind a young son and daughter.
“He was really loving and caring. He kind of stayed to himself most of the time but e still cared about anyone in his life he was a good person he would do anything to help someone… My brother was that was my best friend. I mean I’ve had him in my life my entire life. There isn’t anything that you could ask Marqukis that he wouldn’t do for someone stranger a friend or a foe, he didn’t care he would devote his life to being there for you and it’s just sad that he’s not here to spread that light in the world or in his children’s lives anymore.”, said Turner.
Turner said her family is just looking for answers as to why this happened. They plead with the public to bring forth any information about what may have happened on Monday.
“If anyone had any time of them seeing my brother on Monday afternoon in Columbia or if they had anymore information of his state of mind at that time or anything g come forward I mean we want answers as to why my brother was shot and left there’s no reason that he should’ve dies that way, my brother was left alone and there’s no reason that anyone should die alone.”, said Turner.
Benitez pleaded guilty to assault in Randolph County in a 2015 incident. She was accused of hitting a woman with a vehicle then stabbing her because she was upset over social media statements. The victim had a broken leg and several lacerations, police said at the time.
Court records show she was put on probation but violated the terms in 2017. A Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman said Benitez was in prison from July 2017 to February 2020.
The Department of Corrections spokeswoman said Benitez is out of prison on parole and the state has issued a parole violation warrant.
Benitez is currently being held in Boone County Jail without bond.
Police say they still do not know the motive as this is still an ongoing investigation. Law Enforcement ask if anyone has information about this crime to contact the Columbia Police Department at 573.874.7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573.875.TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.
