Birmingham, Alabama – Two women have been sentenced in connection with the 2022 death of a college student in the Talladega National Forest. The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama announced on Thursday that 37-year-old Krystal Diane Pinkins of Memphis, Tennessee, has been sentenced to life in prison, while 21-year-old Yasmine Marie Hider of Oklahoma has been given a 35-year prison term.
Hider pleaded guilty last year to murder, kidnapping, and robbery and agreed to testify against Pinkins in an agreement with prosecutors. Pinkins, on the other hand, was convicted of murder, robbery, and unlawful use of a firearm during a violent crime in September 2023.
The victims, who were two University of Central Florida students, made an impulsive trip to the national forest on Aug. 14, 2022. One of the students, 22-year-old Adam Simjee, was shot and killed in an encounter with Hider and Pinkins in the forest. First responders found his longtime girlfriend, Mikayla Paulus, 20, performing CPR on Simjee when they arrived, but he did not survive.
Authorities said the women attempted to rob the two college students, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Hider was found at the scene with four gunshot wounds.
The investigation led authorities to a base camp in the forest, described as an “off-the-grid” camping site. Pinkins was located nearby about six hours after the shooting and was arrested.
According to prosecutors, Pinkins provided the firearm and assisted in the planning of the robbery, and she watched from the woods as the robbery and shooting took place. U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona thanked local, state, and federal agencies for their “tireless efforts” in the course of the investigation.
The convictions and sentences will hopefully bring justice to the victims and their families, reassurring them that these defendants have been held accountable for their actions, Escalona said.