SANFORD, FL – A Seminole County jury will soon determine the fate of a man convicted of killing his girlfriend after she refused his demands to terminate her pregnancy—a crime that prosecutors described as shocking in both its violence and motive.
Donovan L. Faison, 23, was found guilty Monday of first-degree murder and the unlawful killing of an unborn child in the 2022 death of 18-year-old Kaylin Fiengo. The jury’s decision concluded a week-long trial that examined a tumultuous relationship culminating in tragedy at a Sanford city park just north of Orlando.
The sentencing portion of Faison’s trial begins Wednesday, when jurors must recommend whether he should be sentenced to death or spend life in prison without parole.
Court testimony revealed that Fiengo’s revelation of her pregnancy triggered a series of heated arguments between her and Faison. According to evidence presented, Faison became enraged after being sent a photo of two positive pregnancy tests. He responded by accusing Fiengo of dishonesty and pressuring her to get an abortion. Investigators found text messages in which Faison demanded “Abortion!!!” and, in other messages to friends, explicitly stated his intent to remove Fiengo from his life.
Authorities said the messages provided essential insight into Faison’s state of mind and intent in the days leading up to the killing. Prosecutors argued that these digital exchanges were crucial proof that the crime was planned and deliberate.
On Nov. 11, 2022, Sanford police officers on patrol discovered a car parked in Coastline Park. When they approached, they found Fiengo in the driver’s seat, already dead from a gunshot wound. Medical examiners later confirmed that Fiengo, who had just entered her second trimester of pregnancy, had been shot at close range.
Investigators spent months reconstructing the events leading up to the murder. They learned that Fiengo had agreed to meet Faison at the park that evening, a decision that followed multiple arguments regarding the pregnancy. Detectives believe Faison lured her to the isolated location where the confrontation turned fatal.
Following a ten-month investigation, police arrested Faison in August 2023. He was taken into custody without incident.
Fiengo’s death left a lasting void in her family. She was survived by a young son, only a year old at the time, and her parents described her as a devoted mother who had graduated high school early. Family members recalled her vibrant personality, her determination, and the loss they now carry.
Sanford police said that meticulous police work helped ensure a thorough case against Faison, allowing prosecutors to bring the case to trial with confidence. Officials have described the murder as both senseless and heartbreaking, emphasizing its devastating impact on Fiengo’s family and their community.
As the sentencing phase begins, Fiengo’s loved ones hope for justice, remembering a young woman’s life cut short and the child left behind. The case stands as a grim reminder of the consequences of domestic violence and the far-reaching pain it causes.