A man who was arrested in Carroll County and charged with raping his ex-girlfriend in June allegedly told her that if she went to police he would “bail out of jail and come find her,” according to court documents.
On Oct. 25, the man posted bond, officials said. Less than two weeks later, the woman was dead.
Harold Dakers, 34, is wanted on a murder charge in connection with Friday’s killing of 29-year-old Kaleshia Lyons in Lithia Springs, Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds said at a news conference Monday afternoon.
The victim, who had a child with Dakers, was found at her grandmother’s home. The sheriff said she died as a result of blunt force trauma to her head and face.
Credit: Christina Matacotta
Credit: Christina Matacotta
According to Pounds, Lyons had moved from a home in Villa Rica to live with her grandmother after Dakers allegedly raped her. Dakers was also charged in June with aggravated assault, theft by taking and false imprisonment, according to court records.
Dakers was indicted in August on charges stemming from the June incident, and the court documents included details from the Villa Rica police officer who responded to the initial call and interviewed Lyons.
She told the officer Dakers had asked to have their son spend time with him for Father’s Day, which she allowed. The day Dakers was supposed to take their son out to eat, he called Lyons crying on the phone, she said. Worried about their son, she went to pick him up from Dakers’ house.
When Lyons arrived, she said Dakers was calm at first, “then he just snapped,” according to the indictment. Dakers took her phone and repeatedly demanded her password, she said. He threatened to break her phone and, when Lyons tried to leave, he pushed her to the ground and put her in a chokehold, the indictment said.
After Lyons gave Dakers the password, she told police he began to get upset as he went through her phone. Lyons said the man told her he wanted them to “be a family again” and that she could not leave until she agreed, according to the indictment. After Lyons agreed, she told the officer that Dakers forced himself on her and raped her.
After the assault, Dakers demanded that she tell no one about the incident, the indictment said.
Lyons told police that Dakers said if she reported him, “he would bail out of jail and come find her,” according to the indictment.
Dakers was granted a bond of $25,000 on Oct. 13, which he paid prior to his release Oct. 25, court records show.
Pounds said investigators believe Dakers is still in the area and advised anyone who sees him to immediately call 911. Asked if Dakers was a threat to others, Pounds said, “Maybe himself, not other people, but maybe law enforcement.”
“He made a statement saying he wasn’t going back to jail,” Pounds added.
Anyone with information about Dakers’ whereabouts is asked to contact Investigator Myrlene Jean at 770-920-4916 or mjean@sheriff.douglas.ga.us.
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