Deerfield-News.com-Deerfield Beach,Fl-
ARREST MADE ON DOUBLE HOMICIDE OF MOTHER AND HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ON THE TURNPIKE
- PIO Number:
- 24-12-24 (24-6-16 B)
- BSO Case Number:
- 90-2406-002736 (UPDATE)
- Date:
- June 7, 2024
- Time:
- 11:14 p.m.
- Place of Occurrence:
- Turnpike northbound near Mile Marker 49 just south of Hollywood Boulevard
- Victim 1:
- Beatrice Saintvil, additional information withheld, Marsy’s Law (DECEASED)
- Victim 2:
- Janelle Souffrant, additional information withheld, Marsy’s Law (DECEASED)
- Suspect 1:
- Antoine Harris, 28, 5/9/1996, male (ARRESTED)
- Suspect 2:
- Jaquan Thomas, 29, 10/11/1995, male (ARRESTED)
- Description of Incident:
Detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit, in collaboration with BSO’s V.I.P.E.R. (Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response) investigators, arrested Antoine Harris and Jaquan Thomas for the double homicide of Beatrice Saintvil and her four-year-old daughter, Janelle Souffrant, on the Florida Turnpike last June.
During the months-long investigation, BSO homicide detectives identified Harris and Thomas as the suspects in the fatal shooting. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, investigators obtained a warrant for their arrests.
On Friday, Dec. 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 break down 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.
INVESTIGATORS:
Homicide Det. R. Schnakenberg, CID
Homicide Det. I. Kuechler, CID
Homicide Sgt. S. Cottam, CID
V.I.P.E.R. FHP; HPD; HFR; PBFR
THIS REPORT BY:
Claudinne Caro/Bilingual PIO
12/20/24 2000
