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Polk Man Charged In Attack On Family That Kills 1, Injures 2

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 18, 2008

Updated: 08/18/2008 11:34 am

Casey Weldon Till

Casey Weldon Till rear-ended a Toyota and attacked a family Sunday night in Haines City, killing a person and stabbing two others in what appears to be a random act of violence, Polk County deputies say.

Investigators arrested Till, 26, at his Haines City home.

Deputies have no motive for the attack at this time and don't believe he knew the family, sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said.

Till has been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and carjacking.

About 11 p.m. Sunday, a family was heading to Poinciana after visiting Pinellas County. The family was heading east on Lake Hatchineha Road in two vehicles.

Mario Despaigne was driving his wife – Odalis Cespedes – and infant granddaughter Johanna Despaigne in a 2000 Black Nissan. Angel Gonzalez was driving behind the Nissan in a 2008 Toyota. Gonzalez and passenger Ivon Despaigne are the parents of Johanna Despaigne.

The Nissan and Toyota were stopped at the intersection of Lake Hatchineha Road and Watkins Road in Haines City when a Ford minivan driven by Till rear-ended the Toyota, deputies say. Gonzalez and Ivon Despaigne got out of the Toyota to check the damage.

That's when Till "attacked the couple, stabbing both for unknown reasons," a sheriff's office news release states. The couple ran toward the Nissan, and Till entered the Toyota.

The victims tried to run away.

According to the release:

Till drove the Toyota east on Lake Hatchineha Road, striking Cespedes. He turned the vehicle around and again drove toward the family, which had tried fleeing up a nearby embankment.

Cespedes, 42, of Kissimmee, was struck again. Cespedes died at the scene.

Till then got out of the vehicle and charged at the family.

Angel Gonzalez climbed into the minivan and tried to strike Till. Till was knocked down and went into a wooded area on the side of Lake Hatchineha Road.

A Lake Hamilton police officer en route to work Sunday night came upon the scene. The officer was trying to help the family when Till came back to the scene, got into the minivan and drove west on Lake Hatchineha Road.

The minivan struck the patrol car, but the officer wasn't hurt.

Cespedes' cause of death will be determined by the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office. The other two victims, Despaigne, 19, and Gonzalez, 21, both of Kissimmee, were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where they are in stable condition.

Till was identified by evidence at the scene.

Authorities arrested Till at his home, 1090 East Shady Cove, Lot No. 13.

Till was charged July 10 with improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon without intent to kill. That case is pending.

He also was convicted in April 2002 of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, obstructing an officer without violence and grand theft motor vehicle.

He is being questioned at the sheriff's office's bureau of criminal investigations office in Bartow.

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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