REMEMBER Valerie
Valerie Ines Cepeda
19 YEARS OLD ·
Hallandale Beach,
Florida
Valerie Cepeda was 19 years old and the mother of a young child. Although public records extensively document the violence she experienced and the circumstances surrounding her death, far less has been preserved publicly about Valerie herself. The Violet Thread continues to search for reliable information about her life and will expand this remembrance as additional information becomes available.
Valerie was a young mother whose life extended far beyond the violence documented in public records. Despite an extensive search of available news reports, memorial sources, and publicly accessible records, The Violet Thread has not yet located enough verified biographical information to responsibly describe Valerie's interests, personality, education, work, or aspirations. Her story will be expanded if reliable remembrance information becomes available
THE RECORD
On April 24, 2023, Valerie Cepeda was fatally shot in the valet area of the Beachwalk resort in Hallandale Beach. A man who was with Valerie was also shot and survived. Authorities identified Valerie's former partner and the father of her child, Davon Hilton, as the shooter. Hilton was located by law enforcement two days later in Plantation and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as authorities attempted to apprehend him.
RELATIONSHIP CONTEXT
Ex-Partner/ Father of her child
Valerie and Davon Hilton had reportedly been in a relationship since 2019 and shared a young child. They began living separately in 2022. Public reporting documented repeated domestic-violence incidents involving the former couple before Valerie's death. Hilton had been arrested multiple times in domestic-violence cases involving Valerie, and Valerie had sought court injunctions against him. In one reported incident, Hilton was accused of punching Valerie and dragging her by her hair while she was holding their child. At the time of Valerie's homicide, Hilton was facing pending criminal charges stemming from prior alleged violence against her.
CHILDREN / ADDITIONAL VICTIMS
ADDITIONAL VICTIMS
ADDITIONAL VICTIMS DOCUMENTED
A man identified in reporting as Valerie's new boyfriend was also shot during the attack and survived.
PATTERNS DOCUMENTED IN AVAILABLE RECORDS
These indicators reflect what could be established from available sources. Absence from this list does not establish that a behavior did not occur.
TIMELINE
2019
Relationship begins
Valerie and Hilton reportedly began dating.
2022
Living separately
Reporting indicates the couple began living separately during 2022.
2022
Domestic-violence system involvement
Hilton was arrested in connection with domestic-violence incidents involving Valerie, and Valerie sought court injunctions. We should replace this broad event with individual dated events if we can extract the exact court dates.
January
2023
Bond posted in pending case
Hilton reportedly posted bond while facing criminal charges related to alleged violence against Valerie.
Valerie killed
Valerie was fatally shot at the Beachwalk resort in Hallandale Beach. Another man was shot and survived.
Hilton located
Law enforcement located Hilton in Plantation. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as authorities attempted to apprehend him.
LEGAL / SYSTEM RESPONSE
Before Valerie's death, Hilton had prior contact with the criminal and civil court systems related to alleged domestic violence against Valerie. Reporting documented multiple arrests and court injunctions involving the former couple. Hilton had posted bond in January 2023 while facing charges related to alleged violence against Valerie and had a pending domestic-violence case when she was killed.
SOURCES
Man Who Killed Ex at Resort Before Plantation Suicide was Facing Domestic Violence Case
NBC6
INFORMATION LIMITATIONS
Remembrance research is still in progress. The absence of biographical detail in homicide reporting is not treated as evidence that public life information is unavailable. UNKNOWN means the available source set did not establish the indicator; it does not mean the behavior did not occur.
TRANSPARENCY / RECORD NOTE
Public reporting provides substantial information about the violence Valerie experienced but comparatively little verified biographical information about her life. The Violet Thread conducted a separate remembrance search and has not yet located an obituary or other reliable source containing substantial information about Valerie's interests, education, work, personality, or aspirations. This profile will be expanded if additional reliable information becomes available. UNKNOWN indicates that the available source set did not establish an indicator; it does not mean the behavior did not occur.
REMEMBER Valerie.
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