Mom of twins who died after found in a car on I-95 jailed. She’s not facing murder charges
The mother of three-year-old fraternal twins who died after being found in an SUV on Interstate 95 earlier this month was locked up Thursday afternoon in Miami. Investigators say she confessed to planning to kill the two children — and herself — for months.
However, Shirlene Napoleon Alcime wasn’t arrested on murder charges. The 42-year-old North Miami Beach woman is facing two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm. Police told the Miami Herald it’s possible new charges will be added or existing charges altered once Alcime’s toxicology results are available.
On Feb. 2, the twins were found unresponsive in a silver Toyota Highlander on I-95 in north Miami-Dade, shortly after their mother got out of the vehicle and attempted to kill herself, according to investigators.
READ MORE: Toddler twins die after found in car on I-95. Mother tried to kill herself, cops say
Financial woes?
During an interview with police three days later, Alcime said she planned a murder-suicide because of her financial situation, an arrest report reveals. Court records show that Alcime has been at financial odds with her landlord twice, most recently in September.
In the year between two eviction cases, Alcime’s monthly rent payments went up about $800, documents show. According to the Florida Division of Corporations, Alcime is also the registered agent of 10 businesses, including Bazou Tax Multiservices, LLC.
Alcime detailed to investigators that she had considered jumping off while holding the toddlers or throwing the twins off before jumping herself. But that morning, she left her children behind in the SUV and jumped off the highway.
According to the report, a tow truck driver who had seen Alcime on the bridge asked her if she needed help. She told the good Samaritan that her children were in the back seat of the SUV unresponsive.
The driver called 911 and started performing CPR on her son, the report says. He told Alcime to unbuckle her daughter and start doing CPR on her. But when police lights and sirens approached, Alcime instead walked over to the barrier wall and jumped over.
The children were declared dead at Jackson North Medical Center. While police originally said the toddlers didn’t exhibit any readily visible marks or wounds, investigators noted Thursday that they were foaming at the mouth when found.
Alcime, per the report, denied giving her children anything that could cause them to foam at the mouth and become unresponsive. She told investigators she doesn’t know what happened to them.
The toddlers’ cause of death has yet to be determined pending toxicology results.
When officers arrived at the northbound exit to Florida’s Turnpike extension, Alcime “went over the railing of the on-ramp,” landing on the Tri-Rail tracks — which run under the Golden Glades interchange, spokesperson Det. Andre Martin told reporters at the time. She “fell from a considerable height,” but survived.
The state of Alcime’s condition and what injuries she sustained is unclear, though she’s being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond.
‘I just want to know’
Milson Cadet, the father of the twins, identified them as son Milendhere Gabriel Napoleon Cadet and daughter Milenjhit Gabriella Napoleon Cadet. Cadet, who lived with Alcime, reported his girlfriend and children missing on Feb. 2 at around 5 a.m.
Cadet on Thursday told the Miami Herald that he isn’t aware of anything that would lead to Alcime harming their children. He previously said Alcime didn’t have a history of mental health problems.
The grieving father said he’s dealing with “great suffering” as he mourns the death of his son and daughter.
“Justice will have to do its work,” Cadet articulated in Creole. “...I just want to definitely know what happened. I just want to know what happened.”
Miami Herald staff writers Jacqueline Charles and Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report
If you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988. It’s available 24/7.
This story was originally published February 15, 2024 at 4:30 PM.
