A tragic incident unfolded in Florida last month when a 36-year-old woman fell victim to a fatal stabbing outside a Dollar General store. The attack, described by police as unprovoked, shocked the community.

Authorities from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Cheyenne Kastens. She was unexpectedly assaulted by Lemar Beasley, 54, in the parking lot of Fruitland Park, a town situated in Central Florida.

According to the State Attorney’s Office, Beasley inflicted over 40 stab wounds on Kastens, a gruesome detail that underscores the brutality of the attack.

Investigations revealed no prior connection between Kastens and Beasley, nor any interaction before the assault. Despite being swiftly transported to the hospital, Kastens succumbed to her injuries.

After fleeing the scene, Beasley was discovered hiding in a nearby camper. He was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement and is currently in custody.

‘No words can bring back the irreparable harm to Ms. Kastens’ family and friends caused at the hands of a stone-cold killer,’ Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said. ‘However, I hope they can take solace in knowing the intent to hold Lemar Beasley accountable for his actions.’

Beasley is a convicted sex offender who was released from prison in July after serving just over four years for not complying with registered offender requirements.

Beasley was convicted of a series of violent offenses throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, including burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery with a firearm and sexual battery.

Cheyenne Kastens, 36, was killed last month in a random attack outside a Dollar General in Fruitland Park, Florida

Police say career criminal Lemar Beasley, 54, stabbed Kastens 40 times. Prosecutors have announced their intent to seek the death penalty for him

Kastens was attacked in the parking lot of this Dollar General. Police and prosecutors are treating this as an unprovoked stabbing

Records also indicated he was charged with escaping from law enforcement custody in May 2000, but those charges were never pursued.

Beasley was indicted by a grand jury on December 1 for first-degree murder in the killing of Kastens.

On December 18, prosecutors filed a motion with the court stating their intent to seek the death penalty.

‘The capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel,’ Assistant State Attorney K. Mark Johnson wrote in a signed letter. ‘[It] was a homicide and was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification.’

In her obituary, Kastens was remembered as someone who ‘filled the world around her with light, humor, and an unmistakable spark that was entirely her own’.

She was described as ‘kind, intelligent, and genuine, someone who cared deeply for the people and animals she loved’.

Shawn Kastens, the victim’s brother, started a GoFundMe to pay for his sister’s funeral costs.

‘She worked on boats and absolutely loved the life that came with it. She was fun-loving, kind, smart, and always ready with a joke to make someone smile. She loved her cats and animals, cherished time with her friends, and brought joy to every room she walked into,’ he wrote.

‘This loss has shattered our family. While the suspect is currently in custody, nothing can ease the pain of losing Cheyenne far too soon,’ he added.