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Laquetta Gunther was supposed to cook with her friend on Christmas Eve. How she was found two days later stunned Daytona Beach.

The 2005 incident was not isolated -- and raised questions that would take years to answer.

Laquetta Gunther was supposed to cook with her friend on Christmas Eve. How she was found two days later stunned Daytona Beach.

The 2005 incident was not isolated -- and raised questions that would take years to answer.

Loquita Gan is *** resident of the city of Daytona Beach. She was very smart, very smart and very outlawing. There was *** homeless gentleman by the nickname of rooster. He was confined to *** wheelchair. And anytime Laquita would see rooster, she would go out of her way to help him. She was tough. She didn't take anything from anybody which is sometimes not good. Unfortunately, Daytona Beach also has ***, *** seedier side. Ridgewood Avenue runs north to south. It's actually part of the road that runs from Key West up to Maine. It's *** place where narcotics are um readily available. Many struggling with homelessness addiction, mental health issues are regularly out here. It's known for prostitution. Just people who have fallen on hard times really have nowhere else to go. Laquita Gunther frequent that area around Ridgewood Ridgewood Madison Avenue. She did engage in prosecution from time to time. I just didn't agree with her lifestyle and she thought I was square. So there you go, which I probably was back then. I was right is right and wrong is wrong. You know, we just disagreed. There was *** local bar called Chubby's in the 600 block of North Beach Street. And she was well known at Chubby's. Laquita has *** conversation with her friend Stacy Dittmer. They were discussing getting together to start preparing Christmas dinner. And, uh, Laquita told her that, uh, she would do that. Um, before she wanted to go to Chubby's Stacy Ditmer waited up until approximately 1 a.m. Christmas morning for Laquita to show up. But unfortunately, she never made it there. December 26th of 2005. There was *** gentleman going to *** auto parts store right at the corner of Beach Street in Madison Avenue. There was *** little alley um separating the auto parts store with the next building and he found Miss Gunther's body. Laquita Gunther was found naked, shot in the head in *** narrow alleyway off Ridgewood Avenue. Not far from her haunts, she was found on her knees, face down. She was naked, uh except for she was wearing *** pair of socks. Male sperm was found inside of her mouth. She had what appeared to be *** gunshot wound to the back of her head. It didn't matter what she did in her life. She was *** human being and you had no right? Taking her life who gave you to make yourself God. It's not something you believe it's nobody deserves that.
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Laquetta Gunther was supposed to cook with her friend on Christmas Eve. How she was found two days later stunned Daytona Beach.

The 2005 incident was not isolated -- and raised questions that would take years to answer.

Stream full episodes of “Hometown Tragedy” now by downloading the Very Local app for free.Daytona Beach, Florida, is known for its picturesque coastline, NASCAR races and spring break revelry."Unfortunately, Daytona Beach also has a seedier side," shared Daytona Beach PD Detective Sergeant David Dinardi. On December 24, 2005, Laquetta Gunther had plans to go to her friend Stacey Dittmer's home to start preparing Christmas dinner. First, she was going to meet some other friends at a local bar.Dittmer never saw her friend.Two days later, Gunther's body was found naked in a narrow alleyway with a gunshot wound to the head. Two other women were then murdered in a similar fashion in a two-month span, which led police to suspect a serial killer was on the loose in their community. What followed were years of unanswered questions, despite DNA and ballistic evidence.Would a killer ever be brought to justice? Find out on "Hometown Tragedy: The Hunt for the Daytona Beach Serial Killer" on the Very Local app.What is Very Local?Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch local news, original series and more. Keep connected to your hometown with the news team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond.Follow Very Local on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more.

Stream full episodes of “Hometown Tragedy” now by downloading the Very Local app for free.

Daytona Beach, Florida, is known for its picturesque coastline, NASCAR races and spring break revelry.

"Unfortunately, Daytona Beach also has a seedier side," shared Daytona Beach PD Detective Sergeant David Dinardi.

On December 24, 2005, Laquetta Gunther had plans to go to her friend Stacey Dittmer's home to start preparing Christmas dinner. First, she was going to meet some other friends at a local bar.

Dittmer never saw her friend.

Two days later, Gunther's body was found naked in a narrow alleyway with a gunshot wound to the head. Two other women were then murdered in a similar fashion in a two-month span, which led police to suspect a serial killer was on the loose in their community. What followed were years of unanswered questions, despite DNA and ballistic evidence.

Would a killer ever be brought to justice? Find out on "Hometown Tragedy: The Hunt for the Daytona Beach Serial Killer" on the Very Local app.

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What is Very Local?

Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch local news, original series and more. Keep connected to your hometown with the news team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond.

Follow Very Local on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more.