A 54-year-old man in Florida has been apprehended by law enforcement after allegedly stabbing a woman to death in a Dollar General parking lot. The suspect, Lemar Beasley, is facing charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 36-year-old Cheyenne Kastens, according to a statement from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred on a Friday afternoon in Crescent City, where both Beasley and Kastens were present at the Dollar General. Despite no apparent interaction between the two inside the store, and no prior acquaintance, Kastens was brutally attacked near her vehicle. Beasley is alleged to have used a knife to repeatedly stab Kastens.
Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement officers administered CPR until paramedics arrived to transport Kastens to the hospital. Despite their efforts, doctors pronounced her dead at the hospital. Following the attack, Beasley fled the scene, sparking a 24-hour manhunt by local deputies.
Detectives were able to identify Beasley as the suspect and subsequently arrested him at a camper on a property on Huntington Shortcut Road, approximately 7 miles from the scene of the crime. A knife, believed to have been used in the attack, was recovered.
Beasley’s criminal record is extensive, spanning over three decades. He is a registered sex offender and had been released from prison in July after serving time for failing to register as a sex offender.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach expressed his condolences to Kastens’ family and friends in a statement. He assured them and the community that they would do everything in their power to ensure Beasley is held accountable for his actions. Beasley is currently being held in the Putnam County Jail without bond.