Mom Claims Son Is Innocent, Deputies Say He Confessed

As detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office seek out other potential victims, Rashad Hales’ mother is telling a different story about her son.

Regina Hales Hall is “devastated” by her son’s Dec. 30 arrest on attempted murder, sexual assault and kidnapping charges.

"I really do believe that he is innocent,” Hall said. “He’s only 19. He’s still a boy.”

The Crime

Hales was arrested following an attack and manhunt in the Town ‘N Country area. The Tampa resident worked as a salesman for SecureWatch, an authorized dealer of ADT security systems.

According to Detective Larry McKinnon, Hales knocked on a woman’s door just before 6 p.m. Dec. 30 to sell a security system. The woman turned him away, but Hales came back a few minutes later, forced his way into the home, strangled and raped her, McKinnon said.

Hales then threatened the woman’s life if she notified authorities and fled the home on foot. He was caught a short while later by deputies.

A Confession Was Given

While Hall says her son didn’t do it, Hillsborough deputies say he confessed.

During an interview with detectives, Hales admitted to the attack and “regretted only that he did not kill the victim,” McKinnon wrote in a media release.

Hall has no explanation for the confession.

“I can’t explain that,” she said, “but there had to be (a) reason.”

Earlier Years

Hall cannot reconcile the son she knows with the charges he now faces.

She described him as a good son, one who was always trying to help his mother.

“He takes care of mom,” she said. “He loves his family.”

Hall said her son dropped out of school, but was attending classes to obtain his GED.

Hales is the oldest son in a family of five children, Hall said. He did spend time in foster care during his youth as Hall dealt with personal issues, she said. It was there he had a previous brush with the law. She said he got into a fight while living in foster care, but had no other violent incidents in the past.

“He’s just a teenager,” she said. “He likes to play video games. He likes to go to the movies. He’s not a child that goes around and gets into trouble.”

Deputies Have Another Story to Tell

While Hall has only fond memories to share of her son, law enforcement offices are telling a much different story.

Hales, they say, not only confessed to the crime, he expressed regrets for not killing the victim. This is what has led them to believe other attacks may have occurred.

“We think that his level of confidence (in) his threats and the fact that she wasn’t going to say anything may have been built upon by other incidents where victims may have been silenced,” McKinnon said. “It’s a strong possibility that (confidence) was all built upon through these victims. We’re hoping that’s not the case, but if it is we want those victims to know it’s safe for them to come forward.”

McKinnon asks that anyone with information about other potential attacks call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200.

Hall, however, plans to stand behind her son.

“Don’t believe everything you hear or that you see,” she said. “He’s a good kid, he really is.”

Hales remains in the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

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