Talladega National Forest, Alabama – A teenage girl has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder, kidnapping, and robbery of 22-year-old Adam Simjee back in October. Yasmine Marie Hider, then 19, flagged down Simjee and his girlfriend, Mikayla Paulus, to jump-start her car in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama. After a botched robbery attempt, Simjee was fatally shot by Hider, who was then injured by Simjee in return.
The plea agreement revealed that Hider had been living off the grid in the forest with a woman named Krystal Pinkins, who owned the car used to lure the couple and the gun used to kill Simjee. Pinkins was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder, kidnapping, and robbery following a federal trial.
During her hospital treatment, Hider asked about her victim and expressed remorse, saying, “Did he die? I didn’t want to hurt anybody.” When informed that he died, she lamented, “I took his whole life away; now he can’t tell his story.”
The couple had agreed to help Hider, but after a few failed attempts to get her car running, Hider pulled out a gun, ordered them to empty their pockets, and then walk into the forest. Simjee had hidden a gun in his waistband in case of a robbery and used it when Hider looked away, injuring her before he was fatally shot.
Prosecutors agreed to the plea deal after learning about Hider’s living situation and her association with Pinkins, who was present during the crime and had come up with the idea of robbing a motorist. Yasmine Marie Hider and Krystal Pinkins have not commented on the case.
Simjee’s tragic death highlights the dangers of opportunistic crime and the devastating consequences that follow. The sentencing of Hider and Pinkins serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability in cases of violent crime.