The Winston-Salem Journal reports that Michael Hayes — found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of four people during a shooting rampage in 1988 —- is now a free man.
In 2010 Forsyth Superior Court Judge Steve Balog had ordered Hayes released from Dorthea Dix Hospital with conditions. In January, Balog signed an order releasing Hayes from those conditions, which included that he not possess drugs or firearms or travel to Forsyth County. “In other words,” the Journal reports, “Hayes is completely free for the first time since 1989, when he was sent away to Dix Hospital.”
For those unfamiliar with the story:
On the night of July 17, 1988, Hayes walked out of his failing mopped business, armed with a .22-caliber rifle, and began waiving down traffic on Old Salisbury Road near the Davidson County line. He started shooting people who he believed were demons as they slowed down at the intersection. He killed four people —Crystal Cantrell, Tom Nicholson, Melinda Hayes and Ronnie Hull— and wounded five other people before a Forsyth County sheriff’s deputy shot him.
Tom Nicholson’s father —who has worked tirelessly to keep Hayes incarcerated —– said “he knew the day would come when Hayes might be completely free.” Hayes’ case sparked efforts to pass a ‘guilty but insane’ law, but still nothing has been done.
