The Murders of Griselda Cassamajor and Daniel Rivera
For this case, I watched an episode of Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins. It’s season 1 episode 7, titled ‘If I Can’t Have You…’
Two young people are found dead at an Orlando chiropractic clinic where they worked.
Background
Griselda Cassamajor was born in the Dominican Republic, but came to the U.S. for a better life. Griselda was tall, and very confident. She enjoyed dressing up, going out, and spending time with her friends and family. Griselda began working at the Silver Star Chiropractic clinic that was owned by her uncle. She wanted to someday also be a chiropractor and have her own business.
Daniel ‘Danny’ Rivera had been living with his girlfriend at the time, and was focused on their future together. His brothers said he was never into the partying lifestyle. Daniel worked as a massage therapist at the clinic.
Griselda Cassamajor and Daniel Rivera
Daniel (right) with one of his brothers
Love at First Sight
In August 2006, Griselda went out to one of her favorite Orlando nightclubs with some friends. She was approached by a man named Drinel Joseph, who was described as well dressed and fit.
The two exchanged numbers, messaged back and forth, and became inseparable. Griselda fell hard for Drinel. Drinel would buy Griselda flowers or other gifts to show his appreciation for her.
Drinel lived 4 hours away in Homestead, near Miami, and traveled to see Griselda each week. Drienl was the father of two young daughters, and would bring them to see her too.
After a few months of dating, Drinel seemed to have moved in. He also got a job at a high end steakhouse in Orlando. Griselda discovered she was pregnant, but when she told Drinel, he didn’t react like she expected.
Sadly, Griselda ended up miscarrying, and lost the baby. Drinel wasn’t there for her. The final straw came when Griselda discovered that Drinel was actually still married. He had told her that he had been married, but was divorced.
The Crime Scene
Griselda had ended the relationship with Drinel. However, he didn’t take no for an answer. He constantly contacted the office phone, her cell phone, and would show up at her house.
By the summer of 2007, Griselda wasn’t receiving anymore calls from Drinel. She had also met a new man who was described as everything Drinel wasn’t.
On July 2, 2007, Griselda had been trying to leave for work when he car didn’t start. Griselda called her cousin, Daphney, who happily agreed to take her to work.
Daphney dropped Griselda off, and came back during lunch to eat with Griselda and Daniel. She left, and was reminded by her cousin to pick her up later that evening.
Around closing time, Griselda’s aunt, and part time manager, arrived at the clinic. She saw Daniel slumped over the computer. She tried to wake up him up thinking he was sleeping, but realized something was wrong when he didn’t move. She called out to Griselda, but there was no answer.
She contacted her husband, who called the Orlando police. They arrived shortly after, and found blood coming from the top of Daniel’s head. He had been shot execution style as he was playing solitaire.
Griselda was found underneath a desk. She had been shot 4 times, and was unconscious. She passed away a few hours after being rushed to the hospital.
The Theories
There wasn’t a lot of evidence found at the crime scene. There were no surveillance cameras, shell casings, or blood transfer.
The police learned that Daniel had been speaking to his girlfriend up until about 5:21pm. The police had arrived around 6pm. It was clear that the killer had entered with the intention of killing someone. The police needed to determine who the intended target was.
Griselda’s current boyfriend was interviewed. He was ruled out almost immediately as he had been at work. He was devastated by the loss of Griselda. Daniel’s family said he had no enemies either, and that Griselda and Daniel were work acquittances and nothing more.
The police also took a closer look at the clinic. They found it odd that there didn’t seem to be a lot of supplies inside when the clinic was a treatment center. They looked into whether or not Griselda’s aunt and uncle had been the real targets. But, there was nothing suspicious found in the clinic’s records.
A woman had come forward, and said she had been in the clinic around 5:45pm. She signed the sign in sheet, but thought that Daniel was asleep at the front desk. When no one responded to her, she left.
The Note
Just 9 days after the murders, Griselda’s mom made a discovery in Griselda’s room. She had found a note that Griselda had written and tucked into one of her drawers. In the note, Griselda wrote that if something ever happened to her it was Drinel Joseph that was involved.
A few weeks after the initial break up, Griselda went to Miami for a Haitian festival. She and her friends had wanted to go shopping, so she called Drinel who lived nearby.
The friends caught a glimpse into their toxic relationship. Griselda had admitted that Drinel had been abusive towards her, and was possessive and jealous. The friends overheard Drienl tell Griselda that she would always be his, and that if he couldn’t have her no one could.
Drinel was questioned by the Orlando police. They had learned from Drinel’s friends that he had been saying Griselda was the one who had been stalking him. Drinel had also said that he told Griselda that their relationship was fun, but his true priority was his wife.
An Angry Ex
On July 2, 2007, Drinel said he had been at work in Homestead from 8:30am to 12. He had left early due to a disagreement he had with his manager. He said he went to his friend’s mechanic shop to fix his wife’s tires, and went home around 4pm.
The police interviewed Drinel’s friend, who said that Drinel had been at his shop in the morning until 11-11:30am. Drinel could have easily then made the 4 hour drive to Orlando by 5:30pm.
The police obtained a warrant for Drinel’s phone records. They were able to determine that Drinel had in fact driven to Orlando, circled around the clinic, and went in through the front door. Daniel had been shot first, and Griselda was shot as she tried to get away. Drinel then drove back immediately.
The Arrest and Conviction
On July 27, 2007, Drinel was arrested and charged with the 2 murders.
In May 2008, Drinel went on trial, and didn’t say a word about why he killed Griselda and Daniel.
On May 22, 2008, he was found guilty, and sentenced to life without parole.
Drinel Joseph
FINAL THOUGHTS
Drinel could have and should have just left Griselda alone. He lived four hours away and had a whole ass wife and kids. Instead, he planned to kill her, and did just that. Daniel was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Both Griselda and Daniel should be alive today, and I don’t think Drinel feels sorry for what he did.
Sources
https://medium.com/the-crime-center/the-woman-that-solved-her-own-murder-in-the-grave-9d41f65301e8
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-db-homicide-danielrolandorivera-story.html
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2007-07-04-twodeadfolo04-story.html
