- March 27, 2025
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Following a nearly two-year investigation into a string of vehicle burglaries, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has obtained a warrant for Levi Ayers, 22, of Palatka, Florida, for his involvement in the crimes. Ayers was caught by DNA evidence left at the scene. He is the second suspect in this case, as a previous suspect had been arrested in 2022.
In April 2022, the FCSO General Assignment Unit began investigating a series of vehicle burglaries throughout Palm Coast. During the investigation, detectives linked nine vehicle burglary cases and a stolen vehicle case that occurred between April 24 and April 30, 2022.
Detectives determined several credit cards stolen during the burglaries had been used in Putnam County, Florida. Through investigative means, the FCSO Real Time Crime Center identified a suspect vehicle and determined the vehicle’s owner, De’Omonte Baker, then-19, of Hastings, Florida, as a suspect. On May 4, 2022, detectives located and arrested Baker for seven counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance, Burglary of an Occupied Conveyance, Burglary While Armed with a Firearm, Grand Theft of a Firearm, and seven counts of Petit Theft.
After Baker was arrested, detectives identified Ayers as a second suspect. Detectives recovered a latex glove from inside the stolen vehicle when it was recovered in Palatka. Detectives submitted the glove to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for DNA processing.
On January 31, 2025, detectives received the results of the DNA analysis from FDLE, which confirmed a match from the DNA found on the glove and Ayers’ DNA.
“Early in the investigation, our detectives believed that they had identified the second suspect, but they needed the DNA results to prove the case,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “As expected, the results came back and confirmed they were right. After almost a two-year investigation, this dirtbag can finally be held accountable for his crimes. I commend our General Assignment Unit for their thorough investigation and warn dirtbags to stay out of Flagler County as we won’t give up until we get you!”
Ayers is currently being held in the Putnam County Jail following a February 11 arrest. Once Ayers’ case is resolved in Putnam County, he will be transferred to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility to face charges from his Flagler County crime spree. His charges include eight counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance, Burglary While Armed with a Firearm, and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle.
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