FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Detectives believe a troubled 14-year-old girl lured a 25-year-old man to a carjacking that devolved into a deadly crime spree in Broward County.
Juvenile transcripts identified the girl as Serenity Anivin, who is also known as “Sasha” and turns 15 in July. The Margate Police Department had reported her “missing” in 2022. And after she returned months later, she vanished from Margate again in 2023.
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The juvenile transcripts also listed Serenity’s five co-defendants in the new Broward County case against her as 16-year-old Justin Edmond; three 17-year-old boys; and Cody Clark, who turned 20 in December.
“All collaborated and worked together as a group,” Hallandale Beach Officer Jonathan Rodriguez wrote about Serenity and her five co-defendants, according to juvenile transcripts in the case.
Justin and the three other teens, Jamari Peacock, Jermaine Walker, and Cameran Wright, appeared in bond court on Friday. Records show they are facing charges as adults for their alleged crime spree in May.
Records also show the group’s first victim, Rider Prospère, told police officers that he was in his gray 2016 Dodge Charger when he met with Serenity — who was “referred by a friend” — at 10:15 p.m., on May 11, at 320 NW 4 St., in Hallandale Beach.
“The victim met the co-defendant approximately a week ago,” Rodriguez wrote.
Records show Prospère reported Serenity was already in the passenger seat of the 2016 Dodge Charger when the violent armed group interrupted abruptly and forcefully got him out of the driver’s seat.
“He was kicked and struck with the butt of multiple firearms in his face,” Rodriguez wrote.
The five allegedly forced Prospère to take off his clothes and snatched his chain — before fleeing with Serenity in his Dodge Charger. According to Rodriguez, Prospère told police officers he was “in fear for his life.”
Hallandale Beach police officers reported ordering the driver of the stolen Dodge Charger to stop at Ansin Boulevard. The driver later sped away on Hallandale Beach Boulevard and got on Interstate 95 northbound.
“The vehicle reached felony speeds until it exited on I-95 at Copans Road,” Rodriguez wrote.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies also followed. According to Claudinne Caro, a BSO spokeswoman, the chase ended with a crash. The crime spree’s second victim was Patricia Ann Schmelz, who was driving a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.
“After running the red light, the Dodge Charger proceeded into the path of the Hyundai, causing the Hyundai to collide with the driver’s side of the Dodge Charger in a T-bone style collision,” Caro wrote in a statement.
Pompano Beach Fire Rescue personnel responded and took the injured to the hospital where Schmelz, of Margate, was pronounced dead. She was 68.
“The defendant and codefendants were placed into custody,” Rodriguez wrote adding, “five firearms were located in the [Dodge].”
BSO inmate records show Hallandale Beach police officers arrested Clark, Serenity’s only adult co-defendant, on May 11 and he remained at the Broward County main jail on Friday in Fort Lauderdale.
Inmate records also show BSO deputies arrested Serenity’s other four co-defendants — Justin, Jamari, Jermaine, and Cameran — on Thursday, and they were at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on Friday in Pompano Beach.
Jamari, Jermaine, and Cameran are each facing charges of carjacking with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and under 18 years old unlawfully possessing a firearm. A judge set their bond at $210,000 and ordered them to surrender their passports.
Records show Justin is facing 28 charges: Carjacking with a firearm, 12 counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death, aggravated battery, vehicular homicide, four counts of causing death or serious injury while driving without a valid driver’s license, three counts of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, four counts of reckless driving causing damage to a person or property, under 18 years old unlawfully possessing a firearm, and possession of marijuana.
Records show BSO correctional deputies held Justin without bond after a judge denied him bail on the charges of carjacking with a firearm, aggravated battery, and vehicular homicide. The same judge set his bond for the other 25 charges at $530,000.
Serenity was not in the BSO inmate database on Friday night.