Mary Alice Hayes is the former wife of Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, the man accused of carrying out a horrific arson attack on Virginia councilman Lee Vogler. The pair were married in September 2023 in Ruffin, North Carolina, according to their public wedding website, which includes photos, event details, and insights into their brief union. Mary Alice filed for divorce just two weeks before the violent incident occurred.
The Zola wedding site displays cheerful engagement and celebration photos of the couple, marking a stark contrast to the grim headlines that have since followed.
Academic Credentials and Career Background
According to her LinkedIn profile, Mary Alice Hayes holds a Master of Science in Finance from William & Mary, where she had been studying since August 2023 and apparently graduated in December 2024. She previously earned a BSc (Honours) in Biological Sciences from the University of Exeter in the UK in 2020 and is also a graduate of Chatham Hall, a prestigious high school in Virginia.
Professionally, Hayes has held various roles with a strong focus on relationship development, programme management, and education. She currently works as a Deputy Program Manager at Directed Vapor Technologies, Inc. (DVTI) in Danville, Virginia. Before this role, she served as an Executive Assistant to the company's president.
She also spent over two years at the Danville Science Center Foundation as a Development Coordinator and Associate. Her past experience includes tutoring with Sylvan Learning Centers, working as a Museum Generalist, and serving as a STEM Educator for AmeriCorps.
Despite her professional accomplishments and involvement in community-based education, Hayes now finds herself thrust into public attention due to her connection to the suspect in a high-profile attempted murder case. While no statement has been released from her directly, the discovery of her wedding site and professional background adds a personal dimension to a deeply disturbing case still under investigation.
