Florida Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing of Woman at Dollar General Parking Lot

Cheyenne Kastens, 36, of Georgetown, was doing something routine: running an errand at a Dollar General in Fruitland Park, Florida. She walked out of the store one afternoon and never made it to her car.

On November 14, shortly after 3:45 p.m., Putnam County deputies responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive woman with stab wounds in the parking lot. They found Kastens near her vehicle, performed CPR at the scene, and transported her to an area hospital, where she died. Lemar Beasley, 54, of Crescent City, had been inside the same store that afternoon. According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the two had no interaction inside the store and no prior connection of any kind. Prosecutors say Beasley stabbed Kastens more than 40 times before fleeing on foot. Witnesses saw him run, triggering a 24-hour manhunt that ended Saturday afternoon when detectives found Beasley living in a camper on property at Huntington Shortcut Road. He was arrested, charged with first-degree premeditated murder, and later formally indicted for first-degree murder.

The attack was not the work of a first-time offender. Beasley had been released from prison just four months earlier, in July, after serving five years for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. His criminal record dates back to 1991 and includes convictions for burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery with a firearm, and sexual battery.

"No words can bring back the irreparable harm to Ms. Kastens' family and friends caused at the hands of a stone-cold killer," said Putnam County Sheriff H.D. "Gator" DeLoach. "Like many in our community, I am frustrated that this career criminal was able to walk freely despite numerous arrests over decades, court cases and felony charges." DeLoach said his office is working with Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza toward a first-degree murder conviction and expressed hope the death penalty will be pursued. "There is no reason for someone to lose their life for just going about their day," he added.

"This loss has shattered our family. While the suspect is currently in custody, nothing can ease the pain of losing Cheyenne far too soon," a family member said in a statement.

Kastens was a customer, not a store employee, but her death points directly to a vulnerability Dollar General associates face on every shift: the parking lot transition, when you are alone and moving between the building and your vehicle. At many DG locations, single-associate shifts mean there is no coworker to walk out with you and no one watching the door. Before leaving the building, scan the lot. Keep your keys in hand. Park close to the entrance when possible. If something feels wrong before you step outside, call 911, not a manager. A manager cannot dispatch help.

Associates who witness or survive a violent incident at their store have resources available. Dollar General's Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling at no cost. If injured on the job, a workers' compensation claim may cover medical treatment and lost wages. Associates seeking security improvements at their location, whether better parking-lot lighting, cameras covering exterior areas, or a formal walk-out policy during closing shifts, can document requests in writing to their district manager. If those requests go unaddressed, OSHA has enforcement authority and can require corrective action.