Cape teen accused of stabbing, killing his mother; Police: Visited friends after murder

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze and the Naples Daily News 6/4/09

A 15-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday after he stabbed his mother to death, fled in her car and then crashed into several vehicles parked outside a metal work shop on Viscaya Parkway, officials said.

David Joel Hankins has been charged with second-degree homicide in the death of Mayra R. Rodriguez, 40.

Hankins was arrested Wednesday morning following a brief pursuit by police officers, which ended when Hankins lost control of his vehicle at Country Club Boulevard and Viscaya Parkway.

Cape police received a 911 call from a relative at 9:14 a.m. reporting that Rodriguez had been stabbed at her home at 1031 S.E. Eighth Terrace. An investigation by detectives found that Hankins stabbed his mother after an alleged altercation at their home, officials said.

Hankins fled the scene in his mother's car, visited friends and returned to the home. He fled a second time when the relative came to the house and discovered the body, according to police.

Hankins was taken into custody a short time later following a targeted be-on-the-lookout effort by local law enforcement. Aerial surveillance spotted Hankins' vehicle along Viscaya Parkway and a brief chase ensued. He was taken into custody and taken to the Cape Coral Police Station.

Barry Crumpler, owner of Gulf Coast Metal Works Inc. at 1228 Viscaya Parkway, said he had stepped out of the path of a black four-door vehicle less than a minute before it plowed into his work truck and several other parked vehicles.

"They hit that truck and then proceeded to hit three more cars in the parking lot, and spun out," he said. "I had just walked into the front door, through the office, and back towards the bay door that faces towards Viscaya. That's when I heard the noise ... it was just a real loud noise, squealing tires and smoke."

Crumpler said he and fellow employees watched as pursuing police arrived with weapons drawn, then fled into the building and locked it for their safety.

Multiple police units, officers on foot, dogs and a helicopter had searched a neighborhood near Veteran's Memorial Parkway and Everest Parkway before the vehicle Hankins was reportedly driving was spotted.

One witness said he saw a man, who was sweating profusely, get into a black car matching the description of the vehicle that crashed at Gulf Coast Metal Works. The car earlier had been parked in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze parking lot, he said.

Daniel Armendariz and his father, Ignacio, said they saw a man with the same description attempting to break into their home on Everest, but the man fled after Ignacio confronted him. After being interviewed by police, Ignacio said, they were told the man they saw fit the description of a suspect in a homicide.

Prior, a man of the same description had wandered from Saint Andrew Catholic Church and asked to use the bathroom at Blayne's Auto and Air, according to manager Steve Skryd.

"He was sweating, huffing and puffing," he said. "When I asked him what he was doing, he said, 'I stole $20 from my brother and he's after me.'"

After using the restroom, the man hid in a 1956 Ford van in the parking lot, then walked northbound toward the Cape Coral Daily Breeze office, Skryd said.

He said the man wore glasses and was well dressed.

"He looked like he wouldn't hurt anybody," Skryd said.

Police have not confirmed the search in the neighborhood is related to the chase or the homicide.

This is the second homicide this year in Cape Coral.

Valarie Harring contributed to this article.