The Murder of Saleha Huuda

Written By Kiley Baumgartner

For this case I watched an episode of Killer Couples. It’s season 6 episode 7.

A University of Florida cheerleader goes missing, and is eventually found dead.

Background

Saleha Huuda was born in Ghana, but moved to the U.S., at a young age. She was just 21 years old when she was killed. She was attending the University of Florida in Gainesville. She was a cheerleader, and was majoring in family, youth, and community services.

Saleha’s father described her as bright, beautiful, and a great student.

Saleha Huuda

Saleha Huuda

The Crime Scene

On December 30, 2010, a mother and daughter, were driving on a wooded area of County Road 225. They saw an orange glow fill the sky, and called the fire department, to report a possible brush fire.

When the fire department arrived, they put out the fire, and discovered a charred human body. The Alachua County forensics and police were called to the scene.

The body was of a young black female. 90% of her body had been burned, and it was apparent due to the smell of gasoline, that she had been killed. The police knew it was going to take them awhile to identify the body. The other evidence found at the scene was a paper napkin, and part of a cell phone case.

After many hours, the police were able to identify the body. It was Saleha Huuda, and one of her hands wasn’t as badly burned as the other.

A Volatile Relationship

The police contacted Saleha’s father, who was obviously heartbroken. He told them that he had seen Saleha on the day that she died. He said he couldn’t get into contact with her after she left their house.

The police went over to Saleha’s apartment. There was no sign of forced entry or a sign of a struggle. A security guard told them that Saleha’s car was missing from the parking lot. The apartment complex had a key passcode system, and Saleha had left her apartment in the early evening of December 30.

The police canvassed the area, hoping to get more information from the neighbors. One neighbor did say that Saleha and her ex-boyfriend constantly argued, and that the boyfriend was often the one yelling.

A man named Mike called into the police, identifying himself as Saleha’s current boyfriend. He told the police that he had been with Saleha on Tuesday and Wednesday, and that she stopped responding to him on December 30, after she left to run errands.

Mike told the police that he and Saleha had only been dating a month, and he was not the aggressive man that neighbors had heard in her apartment. He told the police that he only knew the other man in Saleha’s life as A.D.

The Ladies Man

The mysterious A.D. made himself known, when he appeared at Saleha’s apartment wanting to help. His name was Antonio Drayton, a 24-year-old.

Antonio was a ladies man who loved the club scene. He said he had met Saleha two years before, but was also dating other woman, including a 42-year-old mother named Cassandra Kimbrough.

The police were able to determine that Antonio was the loud, aggressive man that was often at Saleha’s apartment. In June, the police were called after one of these fights. Antonio had broken in, and robbed, beat and choked and Saleha. She refused to press charges, and the case was eventually dropped. Antonio later said he was drunk when it happened.

Saleha’s friends said even though Saleha had ended things with Antonio, they still spent time together, and had regular fights.

Antonio told the police that Saleha had ignored him for awhile, but on December 30, she had texted him asking where he was. He told her that he was at home, but she never showed up. Antonio then said he spent the night with Cassandra watching movies.

A Potential Motive

During the investigation, the police discovered that a woman named Angela had gotten into an argument with Saleha, just four days before she was found dead.

Angela was brought in for questioning. She told the police that she filed a restraining order against Saleha for an earlier incident. Saleha was arrested for violating the restraining order, which is why her fingerprints were in the system.

The incident between the women that occurred four days before Saleha died, wasn’t a confrontation, but a conversation. Angela said it almost a heart to heart, and she was surprised by it.

Angela had met Antonio in the club scene, and knew about Cassandra. However, Angela said she had no idea that Antonio and Cassandra were in a relationship. Angela said Antonio made it seem like Cassandra just helped him out.

Angela was able to give the police an alibi, but she did give them one more strange detail. She overheard Antonio talking to Cassandra on the phone. He asked for bleach, gloves and rags.

Circumstantial Evidence

The police were pretty convinced at this point that Antonio was involved in Saleha’s murder. His name kept coming up, but now, they just needed evidence.

After days of searching, Saleha’s car was found in an apartment complex parking lot. The apartment complex was within walking distance of Antonio’s home.

Saleha’s purse and wallet were in the front seat. There were no fingerprints found in the car, but there was an overwhelming smell of gasoline. The backseat floorboard was saturated with it.

The police searched every gas station in the area between where Saleha’s car was found and of the location of the crime scene.

They eventually found the gas station they were looking for in Starke, Florida, the town where Antonio’s foster family lived. Saleha’s car can be seen pulling up in the parking lot. A woman gets out, and goes inside to pay for $2 worth of gas in a gas can.

The woman was eventually identified as Cassandra. Antonio’s brother Pedro identified her as the woman driving the car. Antonio’s foster family said that he had arrived at their home unannounced on December 30, asking for money and a gas can.

Saleha’s car

Saleha’s car

He Said-She Said

Cassandra was brought in for questioning. She stuck to the same story as Antonio, that they were at home watching movies all night.

The police obtained Antonio’s cell phone records, and it put him right at the crime scene, just 10 minutes before the 911 call came in. The DNA on the napkin was eventually tested, and matched to Antonio.

Antonio Drayton and Cassandra Kimbrough were both arrested.

Antonio told the police that Cassandra had killed Saleha, by choking her with a belt. He told the police that he had only helped cover up the crime. He watched Cassandra pour gasoline on Saleha, and set her on fire.

The police knew it was bullshit, and turned to Cassandra. Cassandra said Saleha had gone to Antonio’s to break up with him once and for all. Antonio then strangled her to death, and called her for help.

They then drove around deciding what to do. They dumped Saleha, and set her on fire.

The Plea Deals

Antonio and Cassandra both received plea deals.

Cassandra was given a plea deal in exchange for her testimony. Cassandra was sentenced to just 2 years in prison, and was released on October 14, 2012.

Antonio agreed to plead guilty to second degree murder, and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He is scheduled to be released in 2053.

Cassandra Kimbrough and Antonio Drayton

Cassandra Kimbrough and Antonio Drayton

Kiley Baumgartner
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