Timesha Carswell, a 21-year-old student at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, was tragically murdered on September 17, 2015. Timesha, originally from Inkster, Michigan, had recently relocated to Florida to pursue her studies in music, with aspirations of becoming an opera singer. She was known for her fearless and determined spirit, always striving to achieve her dreams.
On the night of the incident, Timesha and her 19-year-old roommate, Diona McDonald, were fatally
shot in their apartment at the Carolina Club Apartments. Both women were shot in the head at point-blank range. A third roommate, Micah Parham, was critically injured in the attack, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to the face and head. The suspect, York Zed Bodden, was a housemate who had been living with the victims. The women had been trying to evict Bodden from the apartment, and they had enlisted the help of a male friend to do so.
Following the shootings, Bodden fled the scene but was later apprehended in North Miami. 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 hanged himself. Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood remarked that Bodden's death saved the state the expense of a trial.
The murders of Timesha Carswell and Diona McDonald shocked their families and the community. Both women were remembered for their vibrant personalities and dedication to their studies and music. Timesha's family, in particular, was left devastated, struggling to comprehend the loss of a young woman who had so much potential and a bright future ahead of her. The case was closed following Bodden's death, as he was the sole suspect in the investigation.
