Two Men Sentenced in 2017 Hawthorne Murder Solved by Cellphone Data
In Gainesville, Florida, two men, Blake Jackson and Keneth Altidor, have been sentenced to 45 and 40 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the 2017 murder of Christin Cassels in Hawthorne. Both were convicted of second-degree murder in…
Gainesville, FL, November 3, 2026 — In Gainesville, Florida, two men have received significant prison sentences for their involvement in the 2017 murder of Christin Cassels in Hawthorne. The case, which remained unsolved for seven years, was ultimately brought to a close through the use of cellphone and geofencing data, according to reports.
Blake Jackson was sentenced to 45 years in prison, and Keneth Altidor was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Both individuals were convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Cassels’ death. The initial incident occurred in 2017, but the investigative breakthroughs that led to the convictions and sentencing only emerged recently following advanced data analysis.
The application of cellphone records and geofencing technology proved crucial in piecing together the events that led to the 2017 homicide. This method allowed investigators to track movements and establish connections, ultimately contributing to the resolution of the cold case. The specific details of how the data implicated Jackson and Altidor were not provided.
The sentences handed down mark the culmination of a lengthy judicial process. The convictions for second-degree murder indicate that the prosecution established the defendants’ involvement in the unlawful killing of Christin Cassels, without premeditation typically associated with first-degree murder charges. Further details regarding the trial proceedings or the specific roles each defendant played in the crime were not included in the information available.
The case highlights the evolving capabilities of forensic technology in modern criminal investigations, enabling law enforcement to revisit and solve crimes that were previously intractable. The precise timeline from the murder in 2017 to the recent sentencing spans a seven-year period, during which the investigation continued to seek justice for the victim.
Story summarized from the original created by WCJB Staff on www.wcjb.com, see more information here.
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