Suspect In Missing Woman Case May Be Tied To 5 Others

Eyewitness News learned that one more person has come forward Wednesday, claiming James Hataway attacked her.

Ocoee police arrested James Hataway (read booking history) late Monday night, who they say was the last person to see missing 27-year-old Tracy Ocasio on May 27 after a Magic game. He has been named the prime suspect in her disappearance.

Ocoee police have linked a total of six possible victims to James Hataway, including Ocasio.

TEAM COVERAGE: Suspect's Past RevealedINTERVIEW: Woman Claims Hataway Attacked HerDOCUMENT: Read Hataway's Booking HistoryRAW VIDEO: Hataway Bond HearingINTERVIEW: Missing Woman's Mom Speaks OutIMAGES: Photos Of Man Arrested, Scene

The sixth alleged victim came forward Wednesday and told investigators she had been roughed up by him.

"This Jimmy has a preponderance to do violence, he snaps, he gets angry, it's always a woman, ride home, end up alone," said Sgt. Mike Bryant, Ocoee Police Department.

A Casselberry woman told Eyewitness News Tuesday that Hataway tried to kill her last August. Ocoee wants Seminole County investigators to increase the charges in that case from battery to at least aggravated battery or attempted murder.

"We're hoping Seminole County will step up their charges to keep Jimmy in jail while we continue to look for Tracey," said Sgt. Bryant.

As days go by and more of James Hataway's past comes out, Ocasio's parents are in disbelief that he was ever on the streets.

"Incredible that he's involved in so many suspicious disappearances," said Joe Ocasio, Tracy's Father.

Ocoee police say they are getting dozens of leads and looking for more possible victims. They do know Hataway worked clearing shore lines and dumping debris illegally.

"He's very familiar with going out into open land at night and not getting caught dumping land debris and waste, that's a concern oh yeah," said Bryant.

Eyewitness News learned more about James Hataway. The 28-year-old lived with his father in Ocoee. He also worked with his father dredging ponds.

From 1993 to 1998, Hataway was in and out of juvenile hall. He has an extensive record of drugs, DUI and traffic violations.

Crime line has put up a $5,000 reward for information that leads to Tracy Ocasio's whereabouts. Police have Ocasio's car and they are going through it, looking for clues.

At a hearing Tuesday, Judge Heather Higbee revoked Hataway's bond on an earlier case of criminal mischief and he is being held on no Bond. However, a bond of $500 was granted on a current misdemeanor charge, but Hataway remains in the Orange County jail.

SUSPECT'S MOTHER TALKS TO WFTV

Donna Hataway is James' mother. She told Eyewitness News Wednesday that she's lost touch with her son over the years. Donna says she spent a lot of time with him in juvenile court, but hoped that he would turn his life around.

Donna said James was soft spoken. Donna, who is hearing impaired, says she heard about her son James' most recent trouble on the news.

For a while, Donna says she was living on the streets and just moved back to town about two years ago.

"Do you think he's capable of hurting, possibly murdering people?" asked WFTV reporter Kathi Belich.

"No I don't think so, because I tried to bring him up the right way," she replied.

Donna says she's worried and admits he was a troubled child with a serious juvenile criminal record, which sent him to a boot camp program.

"He improved, he improved and started to get straightened up and thought about what he did," she said.

Donna said he dropped out of high school, but did get his G.E.D. and said he does construction work and also worked at Perkins and Starbucks.

Donna blames his problems on drugs and says even though she hasn't seen him for years; she'd like to visit him in jail.

"I would say that, 'I love you no matter what good or bad. You'll always be my son,'" said Donna.

She says she doesn't know anything about the disappearances and assaults that have police focused on her son.

POLICE BELIEVE SUSPECT IS TIED TO MAN'S DISAPPEARANCE

As more people hear about the case, it's becoming an eerie game of six degrees of separation and James Hataway is in the middle.

Eyewitness News learned that Hataway was one of two people, who last saw a missing Apopka man.

Wednesday night, Apopka police picked up Tyler Watters. Watters is a friend of Hataway and someone who they believe may have information about the disappearance of the Apopka man.

In February, Chris George's car was found abandoned in a wooded area in Apopka. Initially, family and friends did not take it seriously. They looked for George, who also goes by the name George Onda, and didn't find him, but assumed he did not want to be found.

They thought the 29-year-old took off and went on a drug-induced binge. It was not uncommon for him to disappear for two to three weeks and then come home.

Jams Hathaway helped with the search for his friend. He was one of the last people to see George and told police that George may have been on hallucinogens.

Apopka police initially closed out the case, but now that James Hataway maybe involved in Tracy Ocasio's disappearance, detectives have reopened the case.

Authorities are in the process of re-interviewing all of George's friends, but they are still trying to locate one friend who is considered a person of interest.

Investigators say Hataway and that person of interest were the last people to see George before he disappeared.

Apopka police investigators say they did not consider George an endangered missing person based on what friends and family members told authorities at the time.

Previous Stories: June 2, 2009: Woman Says Person Of Interest In Disappearance Attacked Her June 3, 2009: Suspect In Missing Woman Case May Be Linked To Others