Christin Marie Cassels, a 23-year-old woman from Hawthorne, Florida, tragically lost her life on April 21, 2017. Born on April 25, 1993, Christin was a lifelong resident of Hawthorne. She was actively involved in her community, having graduated from Hawthorne High School where she participated in softball, weightlifting, and the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Christin worked as a medical assistant and was known for her love of spending time with family and friends.
On the night of her death, Christin and her boyfriend had just returned from a day at the beach. As they were outside the home where they were staying, located off US-301, a group of individuals approached them. When Christin attempted to go back inside, gunfire erupted. She was shot by multiple gunmen and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical services. The initial investigation suggested that Christin was not the intended target; rather, the suspects were after money and potentially narcotics.
The case remained unsolved for several years, with the local community in Hawthorne being tight-lipped about the incident. However, in a significant breakthrough, three suspects were arrested in connection with Christin's murder. Keneth Altidor, Blake Johnson, and Nikenson Perin were identified as the perpetrators. Keneth Altidor and Blake Johnson were arrested in Broward County, Florida, while Nikenson Perin was already in federal prison in Seattle, Washington. All three suspects faced charges of first-degree murder and burglary while armed.
The arrests were made possible through the use of mobile device data and Google location information, which placed the suspects at the scene of the crime. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office continued to follow additional leads in the case, seeking further information from the public to ensure a thorough investigation.
Christin's death was a devastating loss for her family and the Hawthorne community. Her mother, Brenda Cassels, expressed profound grief and anger over the senseless violence that took her daughter's life. The arrests of the suspects brought some measure of closure, but the pain of losing Christin remained a heavy burden for those who knew and loved her.
