At approximately 11:00 pm, Sunday, August 17, 2008, a family group was traveling back to Poinciana after visiting in Pinellas County. They were traveling east on Lake Hatchineha Road, Haines City. The family occupied two vehicles as they traveled back into Polk County.

Mario Despaigne was driving a 2000 Black Nissan. His passengers were Oxalis Cespedes, his wife, and Johanna Despaigne, the couple’s granddaughter. Behind the Nissan was the family’s second vehicle, a silver, 2008 Toyota, driven by Angel Gonzalez, and his passenger Ivon Despaigne, the younger couple are boyfriend and girlfriend, and are the parents of Johanna Dispaigne. Ivon is the daughter of Mario and Odadis.

Both vehicles had stopped at the intersection of Lake Hatchineha Road and Watkins Road, Haines City.

A third vehicle, a green Ford Windstar Mini-Van was driven by Casey Weldon Till, the suspect.

Witness information is as follows, the mini-van rear ended the Toyota.

When Gonzalez and Ivon Despaigne exited the vehicle to check the damage, the suspect attacked the couple, stabbing both for unknown reasons.

The younger couple then ran toward the Nissan, occupied by Ivon’s parents and daughter. At approximately the same time, the suspect entered the Toyota.

The older couple exited their vehicle and all victims began to run from the scene. As they attempted to flee, the suspect, in the victim’s Toyota, drove east on Lake Hatchineha Road and toward the family group hitting Oxalis. The impact injured her.

The suspect then turned around and drove west, and back toward the victims who had attempted to flee up a nearby embankment when Odadis was again struck. She died at the scene. Her exact cause of death will be determined by the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office.

After striking Odadis the second time, the suspect again, on foot, began to charge the family. Angel, fearing for his family’s safety, climbed into the suspect’s vehicle, and attempted to hit the suspect. The suspect was knocked down, but quickly fled into a nearby wooded area on the north side of Lake Hatchineha Road.

At the same time, a Lake Hamilton Police Officer, traveling to work, drove up to the melee. As the officer began to render aid, the suspect returned to the scene, entered his minivan and drove westbound on Lake Hatchineha Road striking the Patrol Car as he fled. The officer was uninjured.

Victim information is:

1) Ivon Despaigne, in critical condition at LRMC (Daughter of Odalis and Mario Despaigne, and mother of Johanna).

2) Angel Gonzalez, in critical condition at LRMC (boyfriend of Ivon, and father of Johanna)

3) Odalis Cespedes, deceased

Mario Despaigne, DOB 05/08/1967, and Johanna Despaigne, DOB 02/15/2008, were uninjured.

The suspect, Casey Weldon Till, DOB 06/18/1982, 1090 East Shady Cove, Lot 13, Haines City, was identified by evidence gathered at the scene. He was found at his residence and arrested.

He is facing charges of First Degree Murder, 2 Counts Attempted First Degree Murder, and Carjacking. The suspect is still being questioned at the PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigations Office, Bartow Airport.