Florida Man Faces Death Penalty for Girlfriend’s Murder
A man from Florida is under threat of the death penalty after being convicted of killing his 18-year-old girlfriend and her unborn child. This tragic case emerged after the girlfriend refused to go through with an abortion.
Donovan Faison, aged 23, was found guilty last week of first-degree murder, which includes the fatal shooting of Kaylin Fiengo, as well as robbery involving a firearm. The jury recommended a death sentence with an 11-1 vote, as stated by the state attorney’s office.
In a disturbing incident that took place at Coastline Park in Sanford in 2022, Faison shot Fiengo in the head while she was in her car. Investigators discovered evidence such as ammunition casings and ultrasound images near her body.
Prosecutors presented text messages at trial showing Fiengo sending Faison pregnancy-related photos, to which he allegedly replied with “Abortion!!!” This hints at the pressure Faison felt regarding her pregnancy, particularly as he was reportedly living with another woman at the time.
Prior to the shooting, Fiengo reportedly informed a friend that if she didn’t end the pregnancy, Faison would “cut her off over my brother’s grave.” This text seems to show some forewarning about the tensions leading up to the tragic event.
Authorities shared that Faison lured Fiengo to the park under false pretenses, resulting in her death. During the sentencing phase on Thursday, emotional statements were made by Fiengo’s family members, including her mother, who expressed the enduring pain of losing her daughter.
“Words cannot express the depth of the sadness we feel at losing our daughter to murder,” her mother, Sarah Schweikert, shared. “Every day I wake up and face a world without her smile, laughter, and hugs. The sadness will never go away.” Such sentiments illustrate the profound impact of this crime on the victim’s family.
On the other hand, Faison’s family urged the jury to consider a life sentence instead of the death penalty. A Circuit Judge is expected to finalize Faison’s sentencing at a subsequent hearing scheduled for December 5.
