Challenges ahead for investigators in case of Ronnie Hyde, accused of murdering teen in 1994

FRED LASTER CASE: Hyde denied bond | Hyde's Facebook posts 

Action News Jax is looking at the challenge facing investigators as they search for potentially more victims of Ronnie Hyde.

Action News Jax crime & safety expert and former FBI Agent Dale Carson said even though the murder of Fred Laster happened in 1994, the FBI will be looking at potential victims in the years before and after, something that can be challenging with changes in technology.

As investigators continue to search Hyde's Jacksonville Beach home, FBI officials believe there are more victims than just 16-year-old Laster.

“All of those little bits and pieces of evidence that are collected could lead to other victims,” Carson said.

On Wednesday, Action News Jax sat down with Carson to talk about the challenges facing investigators.

"To identify individuals that came into contact with him over the course of 40 years,” Carson said.

Records show that Laster met Hyde at church in the 1980s. They became friends and in 1994, Laster disappeared after reportedly last being seen with Hyde. On Tuesday, Hyde was arrested for the murder of Laster.

RELATED: Family of murdered teen suspected Jacksonville Beach man was responsible for decades

“We are obviously concerned about what happened 23 years ago. We’re concerned whether there were victims prior to that. There may well have been victims after that,” Carson said.

Carson said if there are victims spread across decades, a big challenge for investigators will be changes in technology and how interactions with Hyde were recorded, whether it was handwritten or logged in a computer system.

“Not only are we worried about here in Jacksonville but there are other communities where he may have resided or visited or operated out of,” Carson said.

Anyone with information or who could be a possible victim of Hyde is asked to contact the FBI at 904-248-7000.

Cox Media Group