Married couple's throats slashed while riding bikes home in 'vicious and gruesome' murder



A married couple in Daytona Beach, Florida, was found dead on the side of the road with their throats slashed and multiple stab wounds over the weekend in what the local police chief called "one of the most vicious and gruesome incidents" he has ever witnessed.

What are the details?

In a news release about the incident on Monday, Daytona Beach police identified the victims as 48-year-old Terry Aultman and 55-year-old Brenda Aultman.

The couple had reportedly just moved to the residential beachside area six months earlier and were riding their bicycles back home from Bike Week festivities when they were attacked. They were within a mile of their home when they were killed.

'Vicious and gruesome': Married couple found with throats slashed were riding bikes in Daytona Beach www.youtube.com

Police said they were notified about the murder at around 2 a.m. on Sunday after a man called 911 informing them that he had come across a man lying face-down on the side of the road and a woman lying face-up nearby him, both covered in blood. The couple's two bicycles were discovered near their bodies.

"This is probably one of the most vicious and gruesome incidents that I’ve witnessed in my 20 years," Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said, according to WESH-TV. "We can’t rule out that this may be totally random, but if it is totally random, the person responsible has to be deranged."

In an update post on Tuesday, police released photos and a video of a person of interest in the murder and asked the community to come forward with any information.

THREAD (1 OF 2): Can you tell us who this is?\n\nWe're looking for this man in connection to the murders of a married couple this past weekend. He is a person of interest.\n\n#DaytonaBeach #DaytonaStrong #DBPDStrongpic.twitter.com/3vtWj0a6F7
— Daytona Beach Police (@Daytona Beach Police) 1646755106

Police had previously described the potential suspect as "a man of unknown race wearing light-colored pants and possibly carrying a backpack."

What else?

The grisly murder has left the couple's family and local community in shock.

In a conversation with WESH, Brenda Aultman's daughter said she is horrified by the tragedy, noting that her mother was her best friend and that her mother and stepfather were a beautiful, fun, loving couple.

Neighbors seemed to agree.

One neighborhood resident who said she was still nervous and shaky following the incident, recalled that the Aultmans "were very nice people [and] very friendly."

The Aultmans' next-door neighbor, Jesse Dylan, recalled that the couple had just moved to the area and said both were extremely happy just enjoying life together.

"They walked to the beach every day. It was like their dream house. They bought bicycles. They just bought a Jeep. They were loving it. They loved the neighborhood," Dylan said.

"He was a responsible guy," Dylan added of Terry Aultman. "They even took bicycles because he was drinking. He left his car, left his motorcycle here. Left their car, left their truck here. It is a real shame what happened to them you know."

Another resident, Donald Sears, said, "My wife is not leaving the house by herself. I can tell you that right now. And obviously, it was a man and a woman, so it makes you think even the both of us are [thinking], 'How safe is our neighborhood?'"

Police search for suspect that stabbed, killed couple riding bikes in Daytona Beach www.youtube.com

Anything else?

As of Tuesday morning, police were still searching for the person of interest.

"We will spare no expense and leave no stone unturned in order to solve this case," said Chief Young in a statement. "I assure you that our detectives are doing all they can to bring justice to the loved ones of these victims."

Man attacks complete stranger with machete, slicing her repeatedly in Daytona Beach Waffle House



Police in Daytona Beach, Florida, have arrested a man who carried out a gruesome attack on a complete stranger in a Waffle House last week, allegedly slicing her repeatedly with a machete.

Pierre Kendrick, 34, is now charged with attempted first-degree murder for the heinous assault, which was captured by the restaurant's security footage, WOFL-TV reported.

Man arrested in brutal machete attack of woman at Daytona Beach Waffle House, police say www.youtube.com

On Feb. 24, at approximately 4 a.m., Kendrick allegedly entered the restaurant located on Seabreeze Boulevard and approached the woman, who was sitting in a booth, according to an incident report filed by police.

Police said surveillance video showed Kendrick talking with the woman while the pair sat at a booth before he briefly got up to talk to others at the restaurant.

Kendrick then returned to the booth where the woman was sitting, pulled out a machete from his pants, and attacked the woman without warning. He reportedly struck the woman repeatedly with the weapon.

A witness at the restaurant allegedly heard the woman screaming and saw the suspect "slicing the victim with a machete," WESH-TV reported.

The woman reportedly managed to escape the situation by jumping over the counter and running out of the rear of the restaurant. She then ran to a hotel where she called the police and told them she was the victim of a stabbing attack by an individual she did not know.

The woman was later taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. Kendrick fled the scene in a "newer model" red SUV.

UPDATE (02/28/2022): We have identified the person we were looking for in this case. Our thanks to those who reached out to assist. It's appreciated.https://twitter.com/DaytonaBchPD/status/1497315791099899906\u00a0\u2026
— Daytona Beach Police (@Daytona Beach Police) 1646063790

To seek the community's help identifying Kendrick, Daytona Beach police released snippets from the restaurant's security footage that showed him entering the restaurant and mingling with customers. Full video of the attack has not been released.

Kendrick was reportedly arrested and taken into custody on Sunday and had his first court appearance on Monday. In court, a judge set his bond for $75,000 and ordered that he have no contact with the victim.

"If you bond out, you shall not possess any firearms or ammunition. Additionally, you would surrender any firearms to law enforcement," the judge said.

Kendrick also faces several other drug and weapons charges, WOFL reported.