10-30 BEHIND BARS
DARBY MAN SENTENCED IN BRUTAL BEATING DEATH
A Darby man has been sentenced to 10 to 30 years after pleading guilty to third-degree murder in the 2017 beating death of 57-year-old retired U.S. Postal Service employee Brad Hayes.
Tramaine Warfield, 20, was arrested in December 2018 and charged with criminal homicide, involuntary manslaughter, second and third-degree murder, aggravated assault and robbery after DNA evidence tied him to the crime. He entered an open guilty plea Friday before Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Alice Brennan.
Darby Police Officer Thomas Takacs saw a black 2006 Chrysler 300 parked with its front tires on the curb and headlights on in front of the Penn Wood Middle School at 121 Summit St. at about 4:08 a.m. Oct. 24, 2017, according to a release issued at the time of Warfield’s arrest.
Takacs investigated and found a large pool of blood on the ground outside the driver’s side rear door. He then saw a man with his head on the floor of the driver’s side rear seat who was unresponsive, according to the release. Takacs radioed for medics, who transported the victim to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Video surveillance from the surrounding area showed Warfield stomping and hitting the victim before picking up the older man and dropping him on the ground. The victim appears unconscious in the video, according to the release.
Authorities say the video then shows Warfield putting the victim into the car and attempting to drive away, but failing to do so. Warfield was seen fleeing on foot toward Greenway Avenue on Summit Street, according to the release. Police also confirmed that Warfield stole Hayes’ wallet during the attack, which was recovered nearby with the victim’s cell phone.
Investigators sent the victim’s possessions, including the Eagles jersey and jeans he was wearing, to the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab for DNA testing. Darby Borough police later received a report identifying Warfield as a possible match for DNA on those items.
Warfield was interviewed Dec. 11, 2018, at the Delaware County Courthouse by Darby Detective Brian Pitts. Warfield initially denied knowing the victim, but admitted that he had met with Hayes that night after Pitts pointed out the DNA evidence, according to the release.
As the interview progressed, Warfield acknowledged that he recognized the victim’s picture. He then became emotional and told the Pitts, “I don’t hurt people on purpose” and that he did not intend to kill the victim.
“I’m not a monster, I just wish I could go back in time,” Warfield said, according to the release.
Hayes’ friends and family members spoke for an hour Friday about his selfless acts, devotion to his family, respect he had earned in the community and his unmatched patience. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Glackin also read several letters in court, including one from the victim’s widow, Vanessa Hayes.
“I pray to God and thank him every day for just opening my eyes so that I can try to move on, even though I feel like I have no purpose,” the letter read.
Vanessa Hayes said this was the second husband that she has lost to murder and that it was like reliving a nightmare. She asked the judge to impose a maximum 20- to 40-year sentence.
Glackin also sought the maximum penalty, noting Warfield had several juvenile adjudications on his record already, including a 2014 robbery when he was 13 years old, two theft adjudications in 2015 and 2016, and a simple assault in 2017.
Defense attorney Marni Jo Snyder asked for a reduced sentence, saying her client had shown true remorse, accepted responsibility for his actions, and suffers from mental illnesses and impairment.
Warfield also apologized to Hayes’ family, saying that he never planned to kill the victim and that he wished he could take back his actions.
“I know that there is nothing
“I’m not a monster, I just wish I could go back in time.”
— Tramaine Warfield on the 2017 beating death of 57-yearold retired U.S. Postal Service employee Brad Hayes
I can do to change it,” he said. “I regret it and it is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life.”
In addition to prison time, Warfield was ordered to provide a DNA sample to state police. He is not eligible for early release.