Man who shot, killed woman in her Warner Robins home sentenced to life for murder

Alba Rosa

May 31, 2024 at 11:57 a.m.·2 min read

A homeless man has pleaded guilty to murdering a woman who let him into her home and will face life in prison with the possibility of parole, Houston County District Attorney William Kendall announced Friday.

Rodney Wayne Helms pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing Natasha Reyes on Nov. 13, 201,8 in her home on Maplewood Drive, the district attorney’s office said in a news release. In the case, heard by Houston County Judge Katherine Lumsden, prosecutors said witnesses pinpointed Helms at Reyes’ home the day of the killing.

“We cannot bring back Ms. Reyes, but we hoped to have played a small role in seeking justice and removing a monster from our street,” said Kendall. “Those who prey on others and take advantage of their kindness should be held accountable for their actions, in this case Helms will spend a minimum of the next 30 years in prison.”

Warner Robins Police Department investigator Joshua Dokes said on the day of the killing, Reyes invited Helms into her home to protect him from the rain and give him something to eat. Later, Reyes caught Helms stealing a .40-caliber handgun from a bedroom in her home along with other personal items in the house, according to a news release from the district attorney.

Reyes confronted Helms and he shot her in her kitchen at close range multiple times, according to the news release.

Helms fled the scene with the handgun and other stolen items and headed toward a convenience store on Feagin Mill Road, the press release said. Police later took him into custody.

The attorney who prosecuted this case, Alicia Gassett, said she was thankful to the investigators from the district attorney’s office and WRPD for helping her prosecute this case.

“Reyes was a kind young woman who thought she was helping someone in need only to have her life brutally taken from her,” said Gassett. “I hope and pray that this sentence will bring her family peace and closure to this difficult chapter in their lives.”

The Canadian Press
Large amount of lobster dumped along highway east of North Bay, Ont.: police
BONFIELD, ONT. — Ontario Provincial Police say they found a large amount of lobster that had been dumped along a highway east of North Bay. Police say they received calls about lobster on the shoulder of Highway 17 in Bonfield on Tuesday. They say it was disposed of "for unknown reasons." Officers are reminding the public that it's illegal to litter or dump items along the highway. They say it can also cause safety issues when it attracts wildlife to the road. Police are asking anyone with infor
NextShark
74-year-old woman dies after being shoved in front of San Francisco train
Corazon Dandan died after being pushed into an oncoming BART train at San Francisco’s Powell Street Station at around 11 p.m on Monday night. The suspect, 49-year-old Trevor Belmont, also known as Hoak Taing, was arrested at the scene and booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of homicide and elder abuse. Dandan, who was Filipino American, was a dedicated telephone operator at the Westin St. Francis and other hotels.
People
Newborn Baby Found Still Attached to Unconscious Mom on Grass Outside Hotel, Both Parents Charged
A Good Samaritan found the baby and cared for it while waiting for paramedics
The Canadian Press
Officers injured while arresting Toronto cop for impaired driving, drug possession
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Peel police say two officers were injured during the late-night arrest of a Toronto drug squad officer who is facing impaired driving and drug possession charges.
People
American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Passenger Allegedly Exposes Himself, Urinates in Aisle
American Eagle flight 3921 made the emergency landing on July 3 “due to a disruptive customer," the airline tells PEOPLE
People
Mom's Boyfriend Allegedly Got Frustrated When Her Son, 1, Couldn't Walk by Himself. Now He's Charged with Murder
Christian Moniz Rabino, 28, has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child neglect and abuse
The Canadian Press
Man dead after shooting partner in Woodstock, Ont.; police investigating
WOODSTOCK, ONT. — Police in Woodstock, Ont., say a man is dead after he shot his partner outside a home then suffered an apparent gunshot wound. Police say the woman is recovering in hospital after Thursday's daylight shooting in a suburban part of the small city about 60 kilometres west of Hamilton. Woodstock police did not immediately say how the man was shot, or whether his injuries were self-inflicted, but an inspector did say he shot the woman first. A police news release says there is no t
USA TODAY
Mexican cartels are diversifying business beyond drugs. Here's where they are profiting
The cartels' reach extends into many parts of Mexico's economy, from food production to fuel.
USA TODAY
Tennessee girl reported missing last month found dead; investigation underway
In Tennessee, the Hendersonville Police Department identified the remains of a found July 3 as that of Trinity Bostic, 17, reported missing last week.
The Canadian Press
Japanese man sentenced to 17.5 years in prison, and 20 strokes of the cane in Singapore for rape
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Japanese hairstylist has been sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and 20 strokes of the cane in Singapore for what the judge described as a “brutal and cruel” assault and rape of a drunk student five years ago, his lawyer said Thursday.
People
British Nurse Lucy Letby Given 15th Life Sentence for Attempted Murder of Baby Girl: 'No Remorse'
The former healthcare worked "coldly denied any responsibility," a judge said during her sentencing on Friday, July 5
People
Man Charged with Single Mom’s Strangling Murder After Anonymously Calling Police to Report Her for Overdose
Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to Las Vegas police, where he allegedly confessed to strangling and sexually assaulting Larissa Garcia, 30, in a hotel room
Local Journalism Initiative
American traveller had hidden handgun: border services agency
A 49-year-old American was allegedly found with a disassembled handgun on his person during a customs interview, according to the Canada Border Services Agency. Gregory Glenn Gaskin, 49, of Sutton, Mass., pleaded guilty to three Customs Act charges through a lawyer last Thursday in Saint John provincial court, according to Crown prosecutor Peter Thorn. Charges included smuggling a Ruger SR40c semiautomatic pistol into the country, failing to report an item and making false statements. In an emai
CBC
Victims of fatal Hwy 1 crash were international students: police
Four people involved in a fatal head-on collision on Highway 1 in West Vancouver, B.C., last week were international students from India, police said.The West Vancouver Police Department said a vehicle travelling eastbound in the westbound lanes near Westport Road crashed head-on into another vehicle around 11:40 p.m. PT on June 26.Four men, all Indian nationals with temporary student visas, were in the vehicle heading westbound, police said; two of them, aged 20 and 21 years old, were killed.Th
CBC
Moose Jaw police ring alarm about increase in doorbell pranks
Moose Jaw police are raising the alarm about a series of "ding, dong, ditch" pranks in the city.In a news release Friday morning, police said the prank — also called "nicky, nicky, nine doors" — is on the rise in Moose Jaw. The prank involves a person ringing a doorbell and then running away before the resident has a chance to see who did it.Police say the incidents are occurring in the late evenings and early morning hours, and that adolescents and children have been responsible.Anyone caught d
People
Decomposed Body of Man Missing Since May Found Floating in Water at Abandoned U.S. Steel Property
The victim has been identified as 44-year-old Warren Baker
The Canadian Press
2 women in Chicago and Cleveland police officer are among those killed in July Fourth shootings
Two women in a home in Chicago, a police officer serving a warrant in Cleveland and an armed person making threats in Yellowstone National Park were among those killed in shootings on the Fourth of July, historically one of the nation's deadliest days of the year.
The Canadian Press
LCBO stores closed for 2 weeks as workers strike, oppose plan to open up booze market
TORONTO — Workers for Ontario's main liquor retailer, who say the government's plan to open up the alcohol market poses an existential threat to their jobs, are now on strike, with stores expected to stay closed for at least 14 days.
PA Media: UK News
Man arrested after police dog dies following search of water at country park
The 27-year-old suspect is being held on suspicion of animal cruelty and over a separate inquiry into an allegation of attempted murder.
CBC
Toronto drug squad cop facing 7 charges after arrest in Peel
A veteran officer with Toronto police's drug squad is facing multiple charges, including possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, after he allegedly tried to evade police during a traffic stop in Mississauga.Peel Regional Police said they initially received a call about an impaired driver in the area of Courtney Park Drive and Hurontario Street just before 3 a.m. Wednesday.Officers found the vehicle and "attempted to stop it," Const. Moulika Sharma said in an ema

Latest Stories