Student Fatally Shot By Woman He Stopped To Help (2022)

That's A Crime
Episode 46: Student Fatally Shot By Woman He Stopped To Help (2022)

Jason Connell and Sal Rodriguez break down the true crime story of the Student Fatally Shot By Woman He Stopped To Help in 2022. On August 14, 2022, University of Central Florida students, 22-year-old Adam Simjee, and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Mikayla Paulus, were driving in Talladega National Forest in Alabama when a woman flagged them down, saying her car would not start. The woman was 20-year-old, Yasmine Hider, and soon after she drew a firearm and forced the couple to retreat into the woods. It was then, Simjee pulled out his own pistol, which led to a deadly exchange of gunfire, leaving Hider injured and killing Simjee. Paulus was able to escape and call the authorities, who arrested Hider as well as her accomplice, 36-year-old Krystal Pinkins, who had been hiding in the woods.

Recorded: 01-25-23
Studio: Just Curious Media
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Transcript

Jason Connell: 8:42:17

Whoa, just curious. Welcome to Just curious media. This is that's a crime. I'm Jason Connell. And I'm Sal Rodriguez. All right, Sal, we are back for another crime. Yeah, we got some traction now. We got some traction. quick thing before we jump into this crime. Yeah. On our website, just curious media, tell fans of bloodstock Cobra guy, let's talk movies, and in particular tonight, that's a crime, what they can find?

Sal Rodriguez: 8:42:54

Oh, this is really cool. Yeah, it is new. It's new to you. It's especially new to me, and it'd be new for everyone else. It's a really cool page on the just curious media site, within each of our shows, has its own dedicated page. For our five star Apple podcast reviews. It looks really cool. And I'm not only saying that, because I'm part of the show. Really, the first time I saw it, I said, this looks really nice. It is a nice looking page. It's not at first I thought well, it but then my second thought was, well, it just seems like we're making a braggadocious page, you know, but then I realized, you know what, no, these people are being highlighted. All of our fans who took the time to leave a five star review are being highlighted. It's like their Wall of Fame.

Jason Connell: 8:43:34

That's it, the wall. So we encourage you to write a five star review and we will put it up there. It doesn't happen immediately. I update it every so often, but it will be on there for all to see. So yeah, I just wanted us to plug that because you know it's there. It looks cool. If you don't know you wouldn't go looking for it. But there you go. So have you left your five star review? You know what?

Sal Rodriguez: 8:44:00

Am I allowed to do that? That's like a candidate voting for themselves. You know, you can do these don't I know but the bald the bald host is very sexy, just incredible. So hot.

Jason Connell: 8:44:15

But today beyond that little message, we are breaking down the True Crime Story of the student fatally shot by a woman he stopped to help in 2022

Sal Rodriguez: 8:44:30

the name alone is very discouraging. So well. It's like a game changer for people that want to help people you know, you want you want to help somebody and then you're more prone to help them if they're a woman maybe a little more prone to help a boy look out. You know, it's like geez, good. You know, there's no no good deed goes unpunished, you know? That's right.

Jason Connell: 8:44:50

So on August 14 2022, University of Central Florida students by the way, I've driven right by that campus on my travels to Florida, didn't go to the campus but went right by students. 22 year old Adam Sim G and his girlfriend 20 year old Makayla Paulus. We're driving in Talladega National Forest in Alabama. road tripping gonna go check out a beautiful park one of America's finest when a woman flagged them down saying her car would not start now. Listen. So that's a very normal situation. We've all seen those people. There was a time in my life that I was that person. And it sucks man when you're stranded pre cell phones or even if you have a cell phone. One day I was in Los Angeles. I don't know if I told you the story or not. I had Brody in the car. I didn't have an SUV. It was my last car car, I should say free SUVs in LA. I had been there six months. And I had a great Toyota Camry, but all of a sudden it just I'm on the 1015 o'clock heading back into town. And it just died and I'm in the middle lane. And I'm like, I'm still new to LA and I thought what do you do? I'm in just everyone's. I think I'm gonna put a foot out and just push and then slowly have my blinker on and I'll be damned if this big almost like a AAA looking vehicle doesn't come over honks has rubber bumper and help push me over the side there but that's what they do. But it was like an angel like he was there in 30 seconds and he pushed like you got behind me big rubber bumper not like jammy like touches you bumper and then just slowly pushed me to the side of the row. And if that's not enough, gave me water to put in my car had overheated. gave me water for that. After it cooled down. He gave me water for Brody. I thought what an angel man that guy came out of nowhere. So I've been the stranded guy when you really need someone to help. And yeah, here we are. Someone stranded. Here's two college kids, a woman on the side of the road, and they want to help and there's our setup.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:47:15

Yeah, yeah, I've been there. Just like you said, I've been on all sides. Yeah, I have been stranded. I have picked up people that needed help. I have helped that needed help. I have especially help a women that need help. So yeah, but unfortunately, this is kind of like I said, kind of a deal breaker here. It's like, You're what we it's kind of you become more jaded. You're like, you know what? Yeah, just because they're a woman? Do we assume that they're safe? Just because they're a woman? Should we assume they're safe? Just because they're a woman? You know? Oh, no.

Jason Connell: 8:47:45

It's not even just a woman thing. It's just do you trust people on the side of the road? Do you want to put yourself in this unknown, you know, situation? So this story, though, the woman in question was 20 year old Yasmin hitter. Now, after almost an hour of trying to fix her car, you know, with the likes of Adam and Mikayla, they got nowhere, you know, who knows what's happening out of nowhere, hitter, draws a firearm on the couple, and wants them to retreat into the woods, forces them to retreat into the woods. The firearm thing is, are you kidding me? We've been here for an hour by waiting, and I may I don't know what was going on. But that is terrifying. It's not just like, I'm jaded that. That's terrifying. Like, why I'm here, I'm a good Samaritan. And now you're pulling a gun on man, my girlfriend or my boyfriend and I, and forcing us into the woods, and good things aren't coming from that. From that.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:48:57

I would think I'm thinking if someone's forced me into the woods at gunpoint, I'm thinking, I need to run or I need to fight.

Jason Connell: 8:49:04

or I need to stay right here.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:49:04

because I'm probably going to well, or what no meaning like, I'm probably going to die. You know, this is this is life or death right here.

Jason Connell: 8:49:11

Retreating to the woods is not where I'm going to take this. I'm right here. What do I have at my disposal? Sure. More to come on this because this makes another journey.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:49:21

Yeah.

Jason Connell: 8:49:22

But once in the woods, hit her ask them for their cell phones and their password cell. So they can immediately get access, write this down. Now, at this point in time, sim Ji pulls out his own pistol. Well, what's led to a deadly exchange of gunfire during a witch hitter sustained several chest wounds, and sim she was shot in the back. Like, wait a second. What is happening here?

Sal Rodriguez: 8:49:56

Yeah, what are the odds that he has his own gun?

Jason Connell: 8:49:59

I'm surprised it seems you didn't pull this out sooner. We're looking for the right time. I know he's brandishing a weapon. It's like, hey, go over here. I would look for any moment to do that, because he's got the upper hand then. He's got the element of surprise. And anyway, I was just shocked to learn this. And there's not even like a standoff or maybe there was we don't know but it immediately goes to this, you know, a shootout. And I'm assuming it's got to be close range. Yeah, it to some degree. Right.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:50:32

We know if it's night. Do we know if it's day or night?

Jason Connell: 8:50:34

Yeah, I think I read that in one of the articles that it was definitely light, like it.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:50:40

I mean, scary but a little less scary than if.

Jason Connell: 8:50:43

Exactly, exactly. Now fortunately, Paulus wasn't injured and quickly attempted to perform CPR on her boyfriend. But sound unfortunately, it was too late. SMG was pronounced dead. At the same. Oh my god. Terrell took a shot in the back, hit some vital organs, his heart, I don't know. It's tragic. As for hitter, she survived and was taken to a nearby Birmingham hospital. And post surgery. She was arrested. Thank goodness.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:51:23

You know, this hits home for me, because you know, one time about a few years ago, Lisa and I were driving around in Sedona, and we picked up I won't say she was a hitchhiker. But she wanted a lift to her place. Her car was broken down. She gave some reason why she needed to ask us for a ride. So I said, Sure. So she got in the backseat, and we drove her a few miles. And then we had to go through a little dark road for a little bit because she lived on a large patch of land. Anyway, we dropped her off, everything was fine in the end. Yeah. But, you know, Lisa reminded me she goes, You know what, maybe we shouldn't do things like that. You know, we don't know who this person is. We don't know what she's capable of. You know.

Jason Connell: 8:52:00

who's waiting for you on the other end.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:52:01

Exactly. There could have been an ambush. Lisa was not comfortable with it. And when all was said and done, I realized you know what, yeah, maybe I shouldn't do that. Maybe I shouldn't. You know, let us see if we can help you. Do you want to call somebody for a you know, there are other ways maybe to help? Yeah. Then by putting yourself in those The jeopardizing situations?

Jason Connell: 8:52:21

Absolutely You're right. I don't know if I would do that. I know Sofia would not be too fond to that. Unless you could vouch for somebody. Yeah, I'm not, I'm not interested. You know, here's a young man, going with his girlfriend to a beautiful place, and you're helping someone, like, it's all these wonderful things. And then you run into this person who has this agenda. It's very upsetting. And visually, I'm trying to like take it in, like you're asking day or night and you know, yeah, it's like you're trying to place it all. As far as scenes, and I'm a movie guy. So everything's like, Oh, I've seen that before. I've never seen that before. But immediately the movies Zodiac comes to mind. Incredible film, David Fincher film, but there was one particular scene and it's different, of course, but based on serial killer, yes, exactly. Yes, the movie is based on that. But this one particular scene is he comes across a couple. Now, again, the context is different. But I'm just thinking of how I felt watching that. He comes up, they're having a picnic. And he's kind of spying on them. And then the girl is like, Who is that? And then he's just there. And he forces them to tie each other up. And he has a knife, and they're just so innocent people, all of a sudden, he's on them. And then he's like, stabbing them one of them actually lived in real life. The female did not. But yeah, you're having a time taking in the beauty. And here's this bad element in the world that does exist. And that's a movie and you know, although based on a real event, and here we are, you know, someone with an agenda. They didn't even have it broken down car. They were spotting people. They wanted their phone. It's like it's poorly thought out. Yeah, but it leads to bloodshed. Yeah. You know, they weren't afraid to take it. There were a lot of times you think, Oh, they just want some money to be on their way. You know, everyone's got guns. It's like, God, this really is scary.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:54:18

If you rob somebody with a functioning working gun. You know, there, there is an implication there. The implication is that you're willing to use it. If you rob somebody with a fake gun or the whole banana thing. It's different. Right? Then you can say, well, I didn't mean to kill anybody in the judge says, Yeah, you're right. You didn't mean to kill, but if you have a live gun, well, you know, there's only a few things you're gonna do with it.

Jason Connell: 8:54:39

And if some she didn't have a gun, and we don't know the answer to this, but what the outcome have been the same was hitters plan to get their stuff get their phones get their passwords and off them it was that the plan they could identify her they know her license plate, you know, it's like, you don't know and it's that's really scary. So thank goodness Paulus lived in was not shot or wounded, but very, very tragic for CMG and his family and Paulus, you know, in their relationship. Now, according to the sheriff's office hittar was among a group of armed and possibly, I'd say definitely aggressive persons living off the grid in tents in the National Forest. Which is a whole other scary thing. Here's a subset of people that are living like nomads, but then there's.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:55:37

like, it's like it's like progress, a cop post apocalyptic.

Jason Connell: 8:55:41

Exactly. Now this was learned from Paulus who informed police at another woman 36 year old crystal Pinkins was in the woods at the time of the shooting saw this is where it just gets like wait a second, this is getting creepier and creepier. There's another been a person. I don't know how close they are, but she takes him in the woods and there's someone else a counterpart because I guess to help two people on the side of the roads, more intimidating, I don't know. But however their plan is what we're saying here is that Pinkins was waiting in the woods to ambush the couple we don't know to so it was another person in there like comrade to hit her and apparently hit her yelled for Pinkins to aid her but instead Pinkins ran away after the gunshots and everything else went off which allows your policy to retrieve her prime partner runs off that runs I find that funny. When it got dark and shots are fired. She fleet and polish thank goodness was able to retrieve her phone and dial 911 which was either still in hitters possession or nearby. She's been hit. I mean very scary. I mean, just think about that. We've seen it in movies even the scene from Reservoir Dogs there's the three way shoot out at the end even hurt you can still shoot someone like she's probably waiting like hitters down but she's got a gun. I mean, this is like terrifying stuff.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:57:14

Sure.

Jason Connell: 8:57:15

Terrifying. So in pursuit of Pinkins, a tracking team from the Alabama Department of Corrections discovered a base camp, about a half mile from the gunshot site. And it was there Pinkins was discovered and ordered to the ground by police. And if that's not enough sow, here's another crazy detail. It was then her five year old son rushed from the woods with a loaded shotgun. I feel like I'm watching an episode of The Walking Dead here. Totally. Yeah, what rules apply? Yeah, exactly. No man's land. It's like a what he call it a Mad Max the road warrior Mad Max. So he's coming out and I read that he kept walking towards her and everyone's like, son put the gun down. I mean, I'm sure that was a terrifying situation for everybody. Because he could really hurt you after a war. If you're a cop. You have to shoot a five year old boy. That's what you need the rubber bullets. But the standoff was brief. The police were thankfully able to safely remove the child from the scene. As for Yasmin hitter, and crystal Pinkins, they are being charged with South please go ahead.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:58:36

One count of murder, two counts of abduction and two counts of robbery plus Pinkins has an additional charge of endangering the welfare of a child.

Jason Connell: 8:58:48

Pretty serious charges there. And I hope they go away on all of them. And this poor child.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:59:00

I'm also reminded of pirates like pirates, but in the woods like Forest pirates is what these people are.

Jason Connell: 8:59:07

Well, what life is this child going to have? Hopefully a better one now. I'm assuming he won't go into anyone's care related to them or her? I don't know. But we don't know her story. We don't know where the father is. But this is just like bizarro world.

Sal Rodriguez: 8:59:25

And Mikayla Paulus posted on her Facebook something which also let you or if you would mind reading, we're seeking an impartial jury so that we may obtain the justice we deserve for losing Adam synergy, the finest guy in our lives. Very sad. You know what I gotta say, though, Jason, something is just. I mean, I don't want to say foul play. I don't know all the details of this, but it just seems Yeah, it's just seems so what are the odds that he has a gun to? You know, and what are the odds that they're the same age group, they're all in their early 20s?

Jason Connell: 9:00:01

I was shocked to find out that hitter was 20 years old. Yes. I'm first reading this, like, Oh, here's someone older, my older like, not that she's old, but 36 year old Pinkins. I didn't know. But

Sal Rodriguez: 9:00:13

well, like I saw a video just the other day of a friend that set up a friend to her house robbed. And they were supposedly friends. You know, I don't know, we're not getting all the details here of any backstory at any potential relationship or previous encounters with anybody. But particularly because of they both happen to have guns, the victim and the assailant, and they're all kind of in the same age group. That's what kind of, you know, kind of a little antenna, a little a little radar going off here. So who knows? Who knows? I hope I'm wrong. I hope it was random. I hope it wasn't a case of anybody trying to set anyone else up, then you have a you know, then two out of the three parties would be bad, basically not just one out of the three. Anyway, horrible in every sense of the word. But yeah, that five year old, we do have some hope that maybe the five year old can be adopted by a good family and give that five year old hope otherwise is going to wind up like its existing guardians out there in the woods been pirates.

Jason Connell: 9:01:10

Yeah. Well, I don't know about my radar. I just think it's a tragic Act, a senseless act. And I think it's just circumstance. I mean, people carry guns for protection. And CMG, obviously, if he was a train shooter, and maybe he was, I don't know, I think the time to pull the gun is before I'm in the woods, or, you know, maybe he pulled it at the right time. And she was ready and there was a lot of shots fired. I mean, apparently he got a bunch of shots off and hit her. But he took the fatal blow. It doesn't make me think, ah, there's a conspiracy here. I think it's just one of these incredibly tragic tales. And I don't know what the plan was all along. I guess I'm always led to like think like, what is the plan to get the people in the woods and have they been doing this successfully? Other people missing are this how they just robbed people, and then they move the car down the road and they do it again? And it's like, I don't know. It's hard to it's hard to stomach. My condolences to the synergy family Paulus who knows how serious they were, you know, Maybe they were on their way to have a life together beyond just college relationship, but very sad and be careful out there, who you help how you help them. Like you said, you can help people in other ways you could pull up not next to them, but you could stop in front of a situation and call the authorities probably keeping a safe distance from getting involved. You know, so, yeah, just makes you think not everyone's bad in the world. But there are bad people out there and you've got to protect yourself.

Sal Rodriguez: 9:02:51

Yeah, because we want to help I think your average person wants to help. But yeah, keep safe, and stand guard and watch yourself.

Jason Connell: 9:03:00

So that covers the True Crime Story of the student fatally shot by a woman who stopped to help in 2022 recipes. Adams CMG? Absolutely, Adams mg rest in peace and Sal, we will be back with more crimes.

Sal Rodriguez: 9:03:20

I can't believe I'm saying I'm looking forward to it. Because I don't look forward to more crimes, but I do also cover light cry. I look forward to our next recording for sure.

Jason Connell: 9:03:30

So thank you so much for listening. And please be sure to subscribe to the that's a crime podcast and the that's a crime YouTube Live Channel. You can also really help us by giving the show a five star rating on Apple podcast.

Sal Rodriguez: 9:03:44

And for all your listeners that enjoy sharing your thoughts. You can leave us a review on Apple podcasts, send us a direct message or post a comment on any that's a crime social media platform.

Jason Connell: 9:03:53

We also highly recommend checking out our other podcast and visiting just curious media.com