US prosecutors have laid out evidence they plan to use to convict Valerie Hayes, a suspect in a botched attempt to kidnap five children and kill their four parents in Virginia, revealing an elaborate web of lies that included posing as a secret agent and faking her own death.
Hayes and Gary Reburn were extradited from Scottish jails last year to face justice. They were found living in Glasgow in 2018 along with a third suspect, Jennifer Amnott, who changed her plea to testify against the pair last month. The trio remained behind bars in Scotland for seven years, costing the public purse at least £1 million as they battled to stay in the UK.
Prosecutors Detail 'Years of Manipulation'
The US Attorney's Office claims Hayes, living in Maryland with boyfriend Reburn, fed the Amnotts lies that she was in intelligence and her kids had been kidnapped and were held by two families in the Old Order Mennonites community in Dayton. Prosecutors say their evidence exposes "years of manipulation and ruses" used by Hayes in a bid to carry out her crimes.
According to prosecutors, Hayes, Reburn, and Frank Amnott planned to enter the first house and hold the parents at gunpoint. After Hayes secured the two kids, Reburn and Frank Amnott would kill the parents, then drive to the second house, force entry, and carry out a similar murder. Hayes was said to be disguised as a Mennonite when a parent opened the door and was held at gunpoint. Another parent fled and dialled 911, and when cops arrived, they found Frank Amnott holding the parent hostage.
In 2019, Frank Amnott pleaded guilty to his part in the plot, and his wife Jennifer will now also testify after being returned to the US. Hayes and Reburn face trial on a 16-count indictment. Fresh court documents accuse the pair of making threats against the life of co-conspirator Jennifer Amnott while in Scotland.
Faked Death and Alter Ego 'Madeline'
Court documents state that the Amnotts met Hayes in 2014 through a mutual friend and became close. Throughout the relationship, Hayes claimed to the Amnotts that she worked for the government and in intelligence services in a "covert capacity," claiming she was involved in "dangerous missions and surveillance operations."
Prosecutors say: "Hayes routinely claimed that she had operatives working with her who were providing protection. Hayes provided multiple names for these operatives, which included 'Kane,' and 'Bjorn,' among others." They add that Hayes would message Jennifer Amnott pretending to be these individuals. At one point, in late 2014, Jennifer Amnott received a message that Hayes had died during a 'mission'.
"Jennifer Amnott travelled to Maryland for Hayes' funeral where she met a woman who claimed to be Hayes' 'body double' named 'Madeline Davidson'," the documents state. "This individual's appearance was identical to Hayes and she never appeared at the same time as Hayes. At the time, Jennifer Amnott believed this to be a separate person, but later realised that Hayes was pretending to be this alter ego."
Daughters Used for Surveillance
The Government says it expects to lead evidence from Hayes' daughter that Hayes told her that the identity of "Valerie Hayes" had died and she should call her "Madeline Davidson." They say Hayes also used various fake accents, including British, Scottish, and Russian accents, and told her daughter that people were surveilling their home, including an agent named Bjorn.
The document said: "Hayes said that Bjorn was a bodyguard and sniper keeping watch over their family. At one point (her daughter) found a second phone that Hayes used (and) found messages where Hayes was pretending to text as Bjorn."
The Government says it expects that all three of Hayes' daughters "will describe how Hayes used them for surveillance of the homes of Family 1 and Family 2 and had attempted prior kidnappings and killings in their presence." These pre-date the charged conspiracy and occurred as early as December 2017.
Prosecutors said Hayes handed one daughter a pistol and told her to shoot the Mennonite mother when she came out, or that they would drive to the woods and shoot the mother there. It is claimed Hayes took one daughter on multiple surveillance trips in Virginia and made her take multiple unknown pills on a daily basis and drink "poppy tea," which had a drowsy effect.
Around March 2018, Hayes took the daughter on another surveillance trip there. The court papers state: "Hayes stopped by the same two houses on multiple occasions. Hayes had brought two car seats, Benadryl, pacifiers, diapers, and zip ties. During these trips, Hayes had a firearm."
Following the attempted kidnappings and killings on July 29, 2018, Hayes and Reburn drove from Dayton, Virginia back to Maryland. During this drive, they threw evidence of the scheme, including clothing and a firearm, from the window. The Government later recovered some of this evidence. Hayes and Reburn returned to Maryland and met with Jennifer Amnott, where they made plans to leave the United States.
Ex-Husband to Testify
Prosecutors state that Hayes and Reburn travelled to Ireland and then "snuck into the United Kingdom" before being found in Glasgow. During the time of the events of this case, Hayes' daughters were minors but are now adults.
The Government also intends to call Hayes' ex-husband, Jonathan Dawson, to testify at trial. It says: "Dawson, at the time unaware of their crimes, also accompanied Hayes and Reburn while they escaped from the United States. Further, Dawson heard their confession to these crimes and then returned to the United States to report their whereabouts."
While in the United Kingdom, Dawson spoke with Hayes and Reburn who admitted their involvement in the kidnapping plot. Additionally, Hayes and Reburn discussed how if Jennifer Amnott attempted to return to the United States and speak with law enforcement, they would prevent her from doing so. Hayes said that she would 'bag her [Jennifer Amnott] up and put her in a dumpster' and Reburn added that he was a black belt (in karate) and would be able to carry that out. Dawson will testify that he understood these statements as a threat to Jennifer Amnott as well as to himself.
A further hearing in the case is scheduled for later this month.
