Arrests made in June 2024 shooting murders of mother and child found on Florida Turnpike
Back in June 2024, Ace News Today reported on the macabre and mysterious murders of 27-year-old Beatrice Saintvil and her four-year-old daughter, Janelle Souffrant, whose bodies were found riddled with bullets in their vehicle which was discovered parked in the left breakdown lane of the Florida Turnpike just south of Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Florida.
Today, we can also report that two men have been arrested and charged in that outrageous double homicide.
On Friday, December 20, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) announced that detectives with their Homicide Unit, in collaboration with BSO’s V.I.P.E.R. (Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response) investigators, arrested 28-year-old Antoine Harris and 29-year-old Jaquan Thomas for the murders of Beatrice Saintvil and her four-year-old daughter, Janelle.
Through their months-long investigative efforts, BSO homicide detectives were able to identify Harris and Thomas as the suspects in the fatal shooting; and on Wednesday, December 18, they obtained warrants for their arrests.
Yesterday, (Friday, December 20,) BSO V.I.P.E.R. investigators located and arrested Harris in Miami Gardens. Harris will be extradited to Broward County. Thomas is currently incarcerated in Georgia on unrelated charges and will also be extradited to Broward County.
Shortly after 11:50 p.m., on Friday, June 7, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) advised they responded to a report of a shooting on the Florida Turnpike northbound near Mile Marker 49 just south of Hollywood Boulevard. The preliminary investigation revealed the shooting occurred at approximately 11:14 p.m.
On scene, FHP troopers located Saintvil and her daughter injured with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. The vehicle was parked in the left breakdown lane. Hollywood Fire Rescue responded to the scene and transported Saintvil to a local hospital where she later died. Sadly, her daughter was pronounced deceased on scene.
At the request of FHP, BSO homicide detectives took over the investigation.
Last June, the reward for information leading to an arrest in the double homicide of mother and child was increased to up to $20,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) matched the initial reward with an additional $10,000.
Both Harris and Thomas face two counts of first-degree murder and will be booked at BSO’s Main Jail following extradition.
Below, see Ace News Today’s original reporting from June 2024.
Breaking! Reward doubled: Search continues for murderers who shot, killed mom and daughter on Florida Turnpike
Reward increased up to $20,000 for information on double homicide of mother and her four-year-old daughter on the Florida Turnpike
(Updated June 14, 2024) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is matching the last reward with an additional $10,000, bring the grand total reward to $20,000.
(June 13, 2024) Florida’s Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) is seeking the public’s help to identify the shooter or shooters responsible for the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Beatrice Saintvil and her four-year-old daughter, Janelle Souffrant, on the Turnpike last Friday. The reward for information leading to an arrest was just increased to $10,000.
Shortly after 11:50 p.m., on Friday, June 7, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) responded to a report of a shooting on the Florida Turnpike northbound near Mile Marker 49 just south of Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Their preliminary investigation revealed the shooting occurred at approximately 11:14 p.m.
After arriving at scene, FHP troopers located Saintvil and her daughter injured with gunshot wounds inside their car. The vehicle was parked in the left breakdown lane and had been riddled with gunfire. Hollywood Fire Rescue responded to the scene and transported Saintvil to a local hospital where she later died. Sadly, her daughter, four-year-old Janelle, was pronounced dead on the scene.
At the request of FHP, BSO homicide detectives responded to the scene and are currently investigating this fatal shooting.
Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding the shooting, identity or location of the subject(s) to contact BSO Homicide Detective Ryan Schnakenberg at 954-321-4247 or submit a tip through the SaferWatch app.
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477), online at browardcrimestoppers.org, or dial **TIPS (8477) from any cellphone in the United States. Any Crime Stoppers tip that leads to an arrest in this case is eligible for a reward of up to $10,000.
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(Source: Broward Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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