Diona McDonald, a 19-year-old African American woman from Southfield, Michigan, was tragically killed on September 17, 2015, in Daytona Beach, Florida. She was a student at Bethune-Cookman University, where she studied music alongside her friend, 21-year-old Timesha Carswell, who was also killed in the same incident. The two women were shot and killed in their apartment, located about four miles from the university campus.
The perpetrator of this heinous crime was identified as 27-year-old York Zed Bodden. Bodden had a history of criminal activity, including charges of kidnapping, robbery, and drug-related offenses. On the day of the incident, Bodden, who was behind on rent, was being evicted by McDonald, Carswell, and another roommate, Micah Parham. During the eviction process, a physical altercation ensued, leading Bodden to retrieve a firearm. He returned to the apartment and, in a fit of rage, shot McDonald and Carswell at point-blank range, killing them instantly. Parham was also shot and critically injured but survived the attack.
Following the murders, a statewide manhunt was launched, and Bodden was apprehended in North Miami the next day. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault. However, within hours of his arrest, Bodden was found dead in his jail cell, having apparently hanged himself. This sudden turn of events brought a swift, albeit tragic, end to the legal proceedings against him.
The deaths of Diona McDonald and Timesha Carswell sent shockwaves through their communities in Michigan and Florida. Both women were remembered for their vibrant personalities and dedication to their studies and music. McDonald's family, in particular, struggled to come to terms with the loss of a young woman who was loved by all who knew her. The incident also highlighted the dangers faced by students living off-campus and the need for better safety measures to protect them.
