A teenage girl from Alabama has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for her role in the murder of a college student during a botched robbery attempt. Yasmine Marie Hider pleaded guilty to the murder, kidnapping, and robbery of 22-year-old Adam Simjee, who was killed in Talladega National Forest in August 2022.
The victim and his girlfriend, Mikayla Paulus, were flagged down by Hider while driving through the forest. After attempting to help jump-start Hider’s car, she pulled out a gun and ordered them to empty their pockets and walk into the forest. Simjee, who had hidden a gun in his waistband, managed to grab the weapon and ordered Hider to drop her firearm, but she opened fire, killing him at the scene.
Hider had been living off the grid in the forest with another individual who owned the car used in the crime and the gun that killed Simjee. The accomplice, Krystal Pinkins, was also sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder, kidnapping, and robbery.
During the plea agreement, Hider asked about her victim’s condition, showing remorse for her actions. “Did he die? I didn’t want to hurt anybody,” she said when told that he had died. “I took his whole life away; now he can’t tell his story.”
The tragic outcome of this botched robbery has led to significant prison sentences for both Hider and Pinkins. This case serves as a reminder of the consequences of violent crimes and the lasting impact they have on victims and their families.