A year ago this week, Aaron James Thayer was texting his then-girlfriend from Connecticut that he was on his way to Bunnell’s Mondex to kill her. The texts were explicit and direct: “Hope you die.” “I’m coming down and I’m gonna fix this forever.” “Imma kill you.” He drove all night to Flagler as the texts flew.
His longtime girlfriend told deputies she was fearful of him: he’d previously beaten her, including a strangling incident, but she’d not reported it. Thayer could remotely see deputies on his property through his surveillance system. It angered him even more.
By the time he arrived in Flagler County, deputies already had a warrant for his arrest on charges of written threats to kill. But by day’s end that April 3 a year ago, and after he was tased, he was at the Flagler County jail facing many more charges, including attempted first degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and grand theft of a firearm, among others. The murder charge alone qualified him for life in prison. (See body cam footage below.)
There was another twist to the case. Thayer is the son of George Contos, who until he was 58 years old had lived at the same Apricot Avenue property that Thayer and his family occupied–after Contos in May 2015 vanished. His car was found at a Palm Coast shopping mall.
This afternoon, with his then-girlfriend and the 17-year-old daughter they have in common present in the courtroom, Thayer 40, pleaded no contest to five charges, including a charge reduced to attempted second degree murder–still a first degree felony, but not a life felony.
The combined charges netted Thayer 66 years prison. He got six. Since he’s been at the Flagler County jail for a year, that time will be credited to his sentence, reducing it to five years. Since he’s eligible got gain time, or early release for good behavior after serving 85 percent of his sentence, he may be out in a little over four years. The prison sentence will be followed by 12 years on probation, with the possibility of early termination if he complies with all the rules.
Thayer was immediately looking around the courtroom for his family when he walked in with other inmates, in the usual jail orange jumpsuit, hands and legs in chains, his beard almost as long as still as brown as the day of his arrest. It took him a moment but when seated, he appeared to give his girlfriend and daughter a smile and a nod of the head. The pair were with a victim’s advocate, who usually accompanies victims to ensure they feel safe and comforted. But in this case the mother of the 17 year old was there to speak to the judge and ask him to alter the terms of the deal: she wanted to be able to have contact with Thayer while he was in prison.
She took the stand. Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark had negotiated the plea deal with the defense and with the former girlfriend’s full knowledge and consent. That negotiated resolution had initially called for continued no contact. The victim wanted that no-contact order lifted.
It puzzled Circuit Judge Terence Perkins. “I’m a little nervous about allowing that to happen outside of supervision and the court,” he told the victim. “Does that bother you at all?”
“I would think there would be supervision over the phone calls with him being in prison,” she said.
The judge was still too nervous about that. “So if we were to permit written-only communication, not voice communication, but written only, initially. You can always ask to change that. Would that serve your purposes?” he asked her. The woman agreed. But he did not yet agree to eliminate the no-contact order involving the daughter. He still wanted to understand what was prompting the victim to see Thayer differently today. “As initially charged, the sentence would have been much greater,” the judge said, continuing to speak with the victim in the witness box. “And we’ve reduced the charge here and I know that the state coordinates very carefully with the others that are involved, particularly those that we classify as victims in that regard. So they’re very careful about getting your wishes known, and they have in this case. So tell me why is your favorite a lesser sentence?”
“I feel like he’s very sorry for what he did. And I feel like he has a way to talk to his daughter,” the woman said.
Assuming there’s no contraband communication equipment in prison, the communications will be limited to written cards or letters. The judge said Thayer’s daughter can ask for a lifting of the no-contact order at a later, unspecified date. Only then the judge took the plea. Thayer did not understand that, and spoke up during the hearing, telling the judge his daughter had not been the victim.
But for that detail, the questions and answers were all routine, until the judge asked Thayer if he knew what he was doing. “I know what I’m doing, but I feel like the way the law is written, I have no other option,” Thayer said. A year ago he had been loudly disbelieving when he was tased or when sheriff’s deputies were handcuffing him, expressing his disbelief at both the deputies and his girlfriend. He was more robotically compliant today, submitting to the usual fingerprinting required by the Department of Corrections before he was ushered out of the courtroom to be readied for his transfer to state prison.
Thayer was found guilty on the attempted second degree murder charge, and on the charges of written threat to kill, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and grand theft of a firearm, all felonies, and resisting an officer, a misdemeanor.
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Concerned Citizen says
This guy should have gotten every bit of that sentence.
I just can’t even fathom the thinking of our Judicial System. Some of these pleas going in front of Perkins recently are down right ridiculous. I don’t understand it. Does he not care? Is he tired and wants to retire? As the judge he can easily say no this won’t work. We need more time. Then send it back. I’ve seen it done several times on cases I worked.
I worry about our victims in this county. Justice seems so one sided these days. Almost like our Judicial system is afraid offending perps. Let’s start doing the jobs sworn to do. Any violent crimes or capital crimes max that sentence out. Pleas and probation should be reserved for first time offenders on non serious charges. Where the offender shows a serious change of heart. Not DV cases or homicides. Or 12 time felons.
This Circuit Court needs to seriously grow a pair. And start handing out proper sentences.
Neighborhood watch says
Where in article did it say he was a 12 time felon? And it seems from the article that the girlfriend wants to have contact with him as well as the daughter. To me that’s a sign of sorts as she has had a year to get out of dodge and move on.
Do these victims advocates referred to in article truly support the victim or are they just an extension of prosecution. From this article it seems that victim made her voice heard to judge, which was different than what was heard or voiced to prosecutor.
And what happened to the case about the missing father? I remember when it was featured on Cold Justice and appeared to be solved and referred for prosecution. Why hasn’t state prosecuted those 2 men in this case? That’s something that needs a media update.
The dude says
So dude will be out and threatening his girlfriend again in three years.
Quite a revolving door for criminals you folks got down here. This must be the freedom I’m always hearing about down here? Cause nothing else in this state is free.
Concerned Citizen says
I’ve tried to wrap my head around it as well. I am glad I don’t have an active career in Law Enforcement anymore. It has to be extremly frustrating. And I have friends who are current and will tell you that yes it is. We need some new faces on that bench.
Robin says
After seeing “Cold Justice” about his father being murdered I do believe this poor guy is suffering deep down about his fathers body never being found and try moving on with his life! He’s definitely suffering from serious mental problems! He seemed he made a mistake and his girlfriend and daughter know this! God Bless Him! Hope he gets the help he needs in prison, he’s been through a lot!
Medic Mom Heather says
I wholeheartedly agree. I will admit that I don’t know Aaron, nor do I have to live next to him when he gets out, but there is definitely some significant trauma that the disappearance, murder, and lack of justice for his father has caused this poor man. What he did was wrong & I believe he got plenty of time to think about it and, hopefully, get some help (although unlikely in prison).
The justice system across the US is so unbalanced & broken. My ex actually DID try to kill me, broke every single one of my fingers in his mouth, and if it wasn’t for me gouging out his eye & my (then) 13 yr old son beating him over the head with a bat, it would’ve ended in my murder…and he never saw the inside of a prison!! Not 1 day!
Life is hard, but my sons & I carry on, and I truly hope Aaron can find some inner peace & work on some healing for his family! Prayers especially to his daughter & her mother who had to feel that fear. You move on, but you never forget it!
A friend says
I grew up with this person. He was an awesome friend. He would give you the shirt off his back anyday. Maybe the problem is how we view criminals vs the fact that they are human beings. The imbalance of justice in this country is stomach wrenching. Thayer is not a monster. Anyone who knows him will tell you that. He was the person always who was always there if you needed help. He worked and saved his entire adult life for his family. His fathers disappearance left a hole inside him. You cry for more time and victim advocacy. So much is left out this story. It breaks my heart to hear to read “burn the witch” comments and you just don’t even have a modicum of the actual truth in this story. Details left out, nevermind an entire life’s story, truths being bended. Sensationalism is all it is. This person needed help. Because all he ever did was help, he couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that he was the one in need, never-mind even knowing how to ask for it.. It’s beyond me how quick people are to rip and tear at another. He made some huge mistakes. But there is so much more. Don’t be so quick to judge.