Birmingham, Alabama – Two women have been sentenced to serve lengthy prison terms for the murder of a 22-year-old Florida college student in Alabama’s Talladega National Forest in the summer of 2022. Yasmine Marie Adel Hider of Oklahoma will serve 35 years in prison for robbery, second-degree murder, and kidnapping, according to her plea agreement. Her co-defendant, Krystal Diane Pinkins of Tennessee, received the maximum punishment of life in prison for robbery, murder, and unlawful use of a firearm during a crime of violence, following Hider’s testimony against her at trial.
The two women faked car trouble to ambush and rob a couple hiking in the national forest. They attracted the couple’s attention, feigning a need for help with a broken down vehicle, before proceeding to rob them at gunpoint. The situation escalated into a fatal confrontation, leading to the tragic death of the young college student, Adam Simjee.
Court documents revealed that the victims, Simjee and his girlfriend Mikayla Paulus, were simply trying to help when they were targeted by Hider and Pinkins. After the shooting, Paulus identified Hider as the shooter, prompting swift law enforcement action. The tragic event left Simjee’s loved ones and friends grieving the loss of a beloved individual, who was described as a kind and gentle soul and a hero to those who knew him.
The sentencing brings a sense of closure to the case, but it also serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of senseless violence. The loss of a promising young life illustrates the tragic consequences of criminal behavior. As the victims’ families continue to mourn, the community reflects on the importance of seeking justice for those affected by such tragic events.
In the end, the tragic outcome of the encounter in Talladega National Forest remains a solemn reminder of the potential consequences of malicious intent, as well as the enduring impact such violence has on the loved ones left behind.