PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – The fugitive who led Putnam County deputies on a manhunt Saturday was charged with murder in connection to the fatal stabbing of a woman at a Dollar General in Fruitland.
Lemar Beasley, 54, of Crescent City, was found in a camper on Huntington Shortcut Road after a 24-hour manhunt involving multiple agencies.
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According to the sheriff’s office, on Friday, 36-year-old Cheyenne Kastens was outside of her car at the store when Beasley attacked and stabbed her to death.
Deputies said the two had no known interactions and were not believed to be connected.
Beasley fled the scene and evaded deputies for 24 hours before he was caught on Saturday.
“Our prayers and deepest condolences are to the family and friends of Cheyenne Kastens,” Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said. “While I cannot take away their pain and sorrow while grieving the loss of a loved one, my promise to her family and our south Putnam community is that we will do everything to make sure this refuse of human garbage spends the rest of his life confined in a cell. away from society and dies in prison. There is no reason for someone to lose their life for just going about their day.”
Deputies also recovered the suspected knife used in the attack.
Beasley, a convicted registered sex offender with an extensive criminal history, was charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
Kastens’ family started a GoFundMe to help with burial services.