Doujon Duwayne Griffiths, 23, a fugitive wanted in connection with the deaths of a 20-year-old mother, Massania Malcolm, and her 1-year-old daughter, Jordania, in Florida, has been apprehended by Linden Police Department officers nearly three years after the tragic incident shook the Orlando community.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida had been searching for Griffiths since September 2021, following the fatal shooting of Massania Malcolm and the heartbreaking discovery of her infant daughter left to die alone in a hot car.
Griffiths is also facing attempted murder charges related to the shooting of Jordania’s father and Malcolm’s boyfriend, identified as Jordane Reid.
The series of events leading to the tragic deaths unfolded on September 7, 2021, when deputies responded to a shooting call at the 1900 block of Lake Heritage Circle in Orlando.
At the scene, they found Jordane Reid, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds but survived. Reid informed investigators about the events that led to the shootings.
According to Reid’s account and subsequent investigations, Griffiths, who had been living with the victims, was asked to leave the residence by Malcolm due to tensions over household contributions.
On the day of the incident, Malcolm and Reid agreed to drive Griffiths to a bus stop, but during the ride, he allegedly shot Reid multiple times from the back seat of the vehicle.
Following the shooting, Griffiths reportedly fled the scene in the car with Malcolm and Jordania still inside. Malcolm was found shot to death in the vehicle, while Jordania tragically succumbed, likely due to heat exhaustion as the car’s air conditioning was turned off.
After an extensive search and investigation, Linden Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop last week, leading to Griffiths’ arrest on outstanding first-degree murder warrants from Orange County, Florida.
Griffiths will now face charges related to the deaths of Massania Malcolm and her daughter, as well as the attempted murder of Jordane Reid.
“No matter how many years have passed, we never forget our victims, and we hope this arrest brings some sense of peace and closure to our community and the two families shattered by this horribly tragic case,” said the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in a statement.
Griffiths will be extradited back to Florida to face trial for the alleged crimes.