Man arrested & charged in the death of a local homeless man

Zanesville, Ohio- On November 21, 2016, Zanesville Police Department Chief Tony Coury said detectives arrested 41-year-old Dale R. Dudas of Zanesville in connection with the death of Leo Hayes Jr.

Hayes was killed and then set on fire on Saturday, November 12, 2016, outside the Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Zanesville.

Coury said that investigators obtained video from a location downtown that led Dudas to be the prime suspect.  Detective Tom Porter said that Dudas has an extensive criminal background within the city and county.

“There was evidence that was recovered through video that led us to believe that [Dudas] would be a person of interest,” said Porter.  “In speaking with him we developed more clues and it developed from there.”

Porter said that Dudas eventually confessed to the crime.

Chief Coury said that they were able to put a timeline on Hayes’ last day and Dudas matched it.  He also said that they believe that Dudas’ motive was robbery and that Hayes had around $20 on him when he was attacked and killed outside the church.

“We told the family that Leo didn’t really have a bad last day,” said Coury.  “He ate a Bryan’s Place, had a nice steak dinner with mushrooms and a mixed drink that he paid for.”  He said that while Hayes was homeless, he wasn’t begging for money.  “He had money in his pocket and spent some of it there and behaved himself.  He had a nice dinner, a last supper if you will.”

Dudas is currently incarcerated in the Zanesville City Jail on a $5 million dollar bond and faces aggravated murder and aggravated robbery charges.  His court date has not yet been set.

Chief Coury said that this investigation was a collaborative effort and he would like to thank the community for its support.