Online dating can be a risky business. You never know who you might meet, or what their intentions are. For Adam Hilarie, a single father from Florida, his date with Hailey Bustos turned out to be fatal. Bustos, who met Hilarie on the dating app Plenty of Fish, was not looking for love, but for money.
She and her three co-conspirators planned to rob Hilarie after their date, but things went horribly wrong when one of them shot Hilarie in the head, leaving him to die in his apartment.
Bustos, who was only 18 at the time, later confessed to her role in the crime and testified against the shooter, Andre Warner, who was sentenced to death. This article will explore the shocking story of Hailey Bustos, the dating app killer’s accomplice, and how she became involved in such a brutal and senseless murder.
The Night of the Crime
The night of the crime was August 19, 2016. Adam Hilarie was at his apartment on Sunset Avenue in Auburndale, Florida. He had just returned from a bowling date with Hailey Bustos, whom he met on the dating app Plenty of Fish. Bustos had texted him earlier that night, saying she had a good time and wanted to see him again. Little did he know, she was plotting to rob him with three other men: Andre Warner, Gary Gray, and Joshua Ellington.
According to the police, Bustos arrived at Hilarie’s apartment around 10:30 p.m., accompanied by the three men. She knocked on the door and asked to use the bathroom. Hilarie let her in, unaware of the danger that awaited him. As Bustos entered the bathroom, the three men stormed into the apartment, armed with guns. They confronted Hilarie in the kitchen and demanded money and valuables.
Hilarie pleaded for his life, telling them he had a five-year-old daughter. But his pleas fell on deaf ears. Warner, the alleged triggerman, shot Hilarie in the head, killing him instantly. As Hilarie lay bleeding on the kitchen floor, the suspects proceeded to go downstairs, move their car to the front of the apartment, and begin stealing valuable items from the deceased man, including an Xbox, iPhone, and televisions that Bustos had noticed the previous night. They then fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of blood and a senseless murder.
Hilarie’s body was found the next day by his brother, who went to check on him after he didn’t answer his phone calls. The police launched a homicide investigation and soon identified Bustos as a person of interest, thanks to the dating app and Hilarie’s phone records. They tracked her down and arrested her, along with the three men, on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with a deadly weapon, and first-degree murder.
The Three Convicts
The three men who accompanied Hailey Bustos to rob and kill Adam Hilarie were Andre Warner, Gary Gray, and Joshua Ellington. All of them had criminal records and were on probation for violent felonies.
- Andre Warner, 26, was the alleged shooter and the mastermind behind the robbery plot. He had a history of domestic violence, battery, and burglary. In March 2020, he was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and robbery with a deadly weapon. The penalty phase, during which he faced the possibility of the death penalty, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and issues with jurors. In July 2021, a unanimous jury voted to sentence him to death.
- Gary Gray, 31, was the driver of the getaway car. He had previous convictions for robbery, grand theft, and drug possession. He was charged with the same offenses as Warner, but his trial was postponed to 2021 to accommodate Warner’s penalty phase. In February 2021, he admitted guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and robbery with a firearm. As a result, he received a prison sentence of 30 years and an additional 10 years of probation.
- Joshua Ellington, 26, was the lookout of the group. He had prior arrests for aggravated assault, battery, and theft. He was also charged with the same offenses as Warner and Gray, but his trial date was not set as of April 2021. He remained in jail without bond, awaiting his fate.
These three convicts showed no remorse for their actions, and even laughed and joked during their court appearances. They took away the life of a young father, who had a bright future and a loving daughter, for a few hundred dollars worth of electronics. Their case is a tragic example of how online dating can turn deadly, and how justice can be delayed but not denied.
The Plea Deal of Hailey Bustos
Hailey Bustos, the woman who lured Adam Hilarie to his death, was the key witness for the prosecution in the trial of Andre Warner. She testified against him and implicated the other two co-defendants, Gary Gray and Joshua Ellington, in exchange for a plea deal. Hailey admitted to being involved in a scheme to commit armed robbery, as well as charges of robbery and theft.
As part of her plea, she also agreed to assist the authorities. She could potentially receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for her offenses. Bustos, who was 18 at the time of the murder, claimed that she was manipulated by Warner, who was her boyfriend, and that she did not know he was going to kill Hilarie. She said she was sorry for what she did and that she wished she could take it back.
She also expressed remorse for Hilarie’s daughter, who lost her father because of her actions. However, Hilarie’s family and friends did not buy her apology. They said she was a cold-hearted and greedy person, who showed no emotion or empathy for her victim2. They said she deserved a harsher punishment for her role in the murder, and that the plea deal was too lenient. They also criticized the justice system for allowing her to get away with a lesser sentence, while Warner faced the death penalty. Bustos was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, on March 4, 2022.
She was the last of the four co-defendants to be sentenced, after Warner, Gray, and Ellington. She will be eligible for parole after serving 85% of her sentence, which means she could be out of prison by 2034. Her plea deal sparked a debate over the fairness and effectiveness of the death penalty, and whether it should be applied uniformly to all defendants involved in a capital murder case.
Bottom Line
The tragic story of Hailey Bustos, the dating app killer’s accomplice, serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in online dating. Her involvement in the brutal and senseless murder of Adam Hilarie highlights the importance of caution and vigilance when forming connections with strangers on dating apps.
