Yasmine Hider and Krystal Pinkins charged nationwide

Krystal Pinkins, left, and Yasmine Hider, right (Clay County Sheriff’s Office)

Two women in Alabama have been charged with shooting and killing a Florida college student when they robbed him and his girlfriend at gunpoint in the Talladega National Forest this summer.

A federal grand jury in Birmingham returned a true indictment Yasmine Marie Adel Hitler20, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Crystal Diane Pinkins36, of Memphis, Tennessee, in one count each of murder, kidnapping, robbery and unlawful use of a firearm during a violent crime, the US Department of Justice announced.

The alleged incident happened on August 14, 2022 and left the 22-year-old dead Adam Simjee dead after sustaining a single gunshot wound. According to the federal government load documentsHitler is accused of actually firing the shot that killed Simjee, while Pinkins is charged with premeditated aiding and abetting.

The indictment documents state that the two defendants “unlawfully seized, detained, seduced, abducted, kidnapped and carried away two individuals” – identified by authorities as Simjee and his 20-year-old girlfriend Mikayla Paul – for their own “benefit and purpose”.

Adam Simjee and Mikayla Paulus (GoFundMe)

While the details of what allegedly happened in the national park are largely omitted from the court documents, Paul spoke to AL.com about the traumatic experience.

Paulus reportedly said that she and Simjee were hiking at Cheaha State Park in Clay County that morning when Hider and Pinkins pulled over them under the guise of car trouble.

“I called my dad (to ask for his car repair advice), watched some YouTube videos and tried to fix the car. When we found it couldn’t be fixed, I asked her if she needed anything else,” Paulus allegedly said. “She (Hider) pulled out a gun, said hands up, go into the woods and drop your phone and keys.”

Calling Simjee a “proud supporter of the Second Amendment,” Paulus reportedly said he carried a pistol in his waistband “all the time,” even noting that the two women were suspicious, saying, “That’s how people get robbed.”

Paulus is said to have remembered that Hitler then demanded that the couple hand over their mobile phones, unlock codes and bank details.

“When she (Hider) dropped her guard for a second and lowered her gun for a second, he drew his gun and told her to get on the ground,” Paulus reportedly told the news outlet. “She started messing around with her gun and she blocked, but they shot at each other.”

Hitler reportedly suffered three gunshot wounds – one of which shattered her femur – but survived. Simjee suffered a single gunshot wound, which ultimately proved fatal.

As the shots rang out, Pinkins reportedly ran into the woods. According to reports, Paulus picked up one of the phones and called the police. She said she gave Simjee chest compressions while waiting for officers to arrive, but he succumbed to his wounds shortly afterwards.

Officials reportedly located Pinkins at a “base camp” of tents not far away. As they made contact, their 5-year-old son reportedly ran out of a wooded area with a loaded shotgun. However, the child put down the gun after reaching his mother and she was reportedly taken into custody without further incident.

The maximum penalty for murder, kidnapping, and unlawful use of a firearm during a violent crime is life imprisonment, while the maximum penalty for robbery is 15 years in prison, according to the DOJ.

The duo also face state charges in Clay County, where a judge has reportedly imposed a temporary gag order on everyone involved in the case.

[images via Clay County Sheriff and GoFundMe]

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