When two college students are attacked in Talladega National Forest, the hunt for the suspects involved comes to a swift end but the reason for the crime leads investigators down a rabbit hole of bizarre beliefs that raise more questions than answers.
Adam Simjee and Mikayla Paulus (Photo Source) Al.com
Adam Simjee and Mikayla Paulus (Photo Source) New York Post
Crime Scene Map (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Yasmine Hider (Photo Source) Vice News
Krystal Pinkins (Photo Source) Vice News
Krystal Pinkins Surveillance Photo (Photo Source) ABC 33/40 News
Krystal Pinkins’ and Yasmine Hider’s disabled Scion in the woods (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Krystal Pinkins’ and Yasmine Hider’s ‘Base Camp’ in Talladega National Forest (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Krystal Pinkins’ and Yasmine Hider’s ‘Base Camp’ in Talladega National Forest (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Krystal Pinkins’ and Yasmine Hider’s ‘Base Camp’ in Talladega National Forest (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Krystal Pinkins’ and Yasmine Hider’s ‘Base Camp’ in Talladega National Forest (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Krystal Pinkins’ and Yasmine Hider’s ‘Base Camp’ in Talladega National Forest (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Krystal Pinkins’ and Yasmine Hider’s ‘Base Camp’ in Talladega National Forest (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Krystal Pinkins and her young son on day of her arrest (Source) USA v. Pinkins US Court Records via PACER
Talladega National Forest Map (Source) Google Maps
Talladega National Forest/ Cheaha State Park Image (Source) Alabama State Parks
Episode Source Material
- ABC 33/40 News: Second suspect sought after fatal attempted robbery near Cheaha State Park. By Caleb Turrentine.
- WBRC News 6: UPDATE: 2 charged after Florida man shot, killed after attempted robbery near Cheaha State Park. By WBRC staff and Lauren Jackson.
- ABC 33/40 News: Search for suspect leads to discovery of ‘off the grid’ encampment, armed 5-year-old. By Sumner Harrell.
- ABC 33/40 News: Florida student recounts boyfriend’s death in robbery attempt near Cheaha State Park. By Stephen Quinn.
- News 6 Click Orlando: UCF student killed in robbery during visit to national forest, deputies say. By Anthony Talcott.
- The Associated Press via Tampa Bay Times: UCF student killed in shootout with robber in Alabama woods. By staff.
- Fox Business via New York Post: Mikayla Paulus calls boyfriend Adam Simjee who was shot, killed in Alabama a ‘hero. By Pilar Arias.
- People: Florida College Student is Killed in Robbery While Hiking in Talladega National Forest. By Chris Harris.
- ABC13 News: Search for suspects leads to discovery of ‘off the grid’ encampment, armed 5-year-old. By Sumner Harrell.
- The Associated Press via WESH News: Florida college student shot dead by would-be robber while hiking with girlfriend. By staff.
- Daily Mail: Florida student on road trip through Alabama with girlfriend is shot dead by woman who pretended to be a stranded motorist so she could rob them at gunpoint: ‘Killer’ was living in a woodland camp with ARMED children. By Vanessa Serna.
- Independent: Girlfriend pays tribute to ‘hero’ student allegedly shot dead by ‘off the grid’ female robbers in Alabama forest. By Rachel Sharp.
- NBC News: College student is slain in a national park by a woman pretending to be a stranded motorist, police say. By David K. Li.
- The Guardian: Student shot dead in Alabama forest by woman posing as stranded motorist, police say. By Maya Yang.
- The New York Times: Student Fatally Shot by Woman He Stopped to Help. By Livia Albeck-Ripka.
- Outsider: Florida College Student Killed While Driving Through Alabama National Park. By Emily Morgan.
- News Nation Now: Florida student shot in attempted robbery, family in mourning. By Brooke Shafer.
- ABC 33/40 News: Woman Charged with murder of man near Cheaha State Park booked in Clay County Jail. By Caleb Turrentine.
- ABC News: Woman charged with murder in shooting death of college student in Alabama forest. By Kyla Guilfoil.
- VICE: Suspects in Bizarre ‘Off-Grid’ Alabama Shooting Posted About New Age Conspiracy Theories, Followed a Controversial Content Creator. By Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman.
- VICE: Followers of Charismatic New Age Influencer Accused of Two Different Murders in Alabama. By Anne Merlan and Tim Marchman.
- Daily Mail: Three ‘cult’ members are accused of two separate murders in Alabama after being connected to a ‘cult leader who believed black and Latinos are gods’ By Alyssa Guzman.
- Nicholson Student Media: Adam Simjee: UCF student leaves a light. By Nina Murillo.
- Yahoo News via Daily Beast: Is a Secretive Alabama Sect That Believes Rainbows Control Dimension Behind More Than One Killing? By Barbie Latza Nadeau.
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Alabama Press Release: Two Individuals Indicted on Federal Crimes Committed in the Talladega National Forest.
- Al.com: Two women face federal indictment in deadly Talladega forest robbery of Florida students. By Carol Robinson.
- Law & Crime: Two Women Face Federal Charges After Kidnapping and Robbery of College Couple Left Boyfriend Dead: DOJ. By Jerry Lambe.
- GhLinks Media: Yasmine Hider: Details of how robbery & shooting victim, Adam Simjee, was gunned down while protecting girlfriend. By staff.
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Indictment via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Death Penalty Notice via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Mental Evaluation Motion via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Mental Evaluation Motion Granted via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Federal Territorial Jurisdiction Motion & Crime Scene Map via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Mental Evaluation Motion Order via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Trial Continuance Motion via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Findings of Competency via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins US Courts: Order Setting Criminal Trial via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Hider US Courts: Indictment via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Hider US Courts: Arraignment Order via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Hider US Courts: Death Penalty Notice via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Hider US Courts: Trial Continuance Motion via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- Law & Crime: ‘I’m going to do time, right?’ : Killer agrees to decades in prison for faking car trouble and murdering Florida college student hiking with girlfriend in national forest. By Matt Naham.
- USA v. Hider US Courts: Plea Agreement via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Hider US Courts: Guilty Plea Advice of Rights Certification via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins Trial Brief of the United States via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- USA v. Pinkins Jury Verdict Form via PACER (purchased copies of court records, no direct link)
- Miami Herald: Ambushed college student is shot dead trying to help woman faking car troubles, feds say. By Julia Marnin.
- WBMA ABC 33/40: Second suspect convicted in deadly shooting of college student in Talladega National Forest. By Sumner Harrell.