Eli Junia Normil, a 23-year-old resident of Haines City, Florida, tragically lost her life on April 12, 2019. The incident occurred at the Citrus Ridge Apartments, where Eli was fatally shot along with her 48-year-old aunt, Nicole Guillume. The horrific event also claimed the life of Eli's 6-year-old daughter, Elizabelle Frenel, who succumbed to her injuries a day later at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.
The assailant, Ernst Cherizard, was Eli's boyfriend and the father of their 18-month-old twins. The twins were fortunately unharmed as they were in another apartment at the time of the shooting.
The tragedy unfolded during an argument between Eli and Cherizard. Following the shooting, Cherizard fled the scene in Eli's car, which was later found abandoned in the Miami area. A statewide manhunt ensued, and Cherizard eventually turned himself in to the Haines City Police Department two days after the incident. He was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence. Cherizard's remorse was evident in a Facebook post he made before his arrest, where he expressed regret for his actions and the impact on his children.
The legal proceedings against Cherizard were swift. A Polk County grand jury indicted him on the murder charges, and he later pleaded guilty to all counts. The plea was seen as a step towards justice and closure for the victims' families. Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky expressed hope that the guilty plea and forthcoming sentencing would bring some measure of peace to those affected by the senseless violence. Cherizard now awaits sentencing, with the possibility of facing the death penalty for his crimes.
