Bucks County woman, 24, who died during Miami spring break remembered as ‘shining light’
The death of a Richboro woman in Miami Beach during spring break has left those who loved her back in Bucks County devastated as police continue to investigate.
Meanwhile, two North Carolina men have been charged with drugging and raping the 24-year-old woman in the hours before she was found dead in a Florida hotel room, possibly of a drug overdose, police said.
Christine Englehardt, of Northampton Township, had traveled to spring break last week.
“Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Christine Englehardt. She was a shining light in our company and will be missed immensely,” said John and Jan Ordway, who own Jules ThinCrust/ Lovebird. “Her smile, her laugh and her wonderful energy will always be cherished and remembered.”
Englehardt, a graduate of Council Rock High School North, worked as an assistant general manager at the pizza shop location in Newtown. An online fundraiser for funeral expenses and travel costs to court hearings had more than $45,000 in donations as of Thursday morning.
“Anyone who knows this beautiful girl knows that she had the biggest heart there was and her laugh was nothing short of memorable,” organizer Sam DiFrancesco wrote on the gofundme. com post.
“She would do anything for a person in need and was always fun to be around no matter what. Christine was only 24 years old and family and friends were everything to her.”
The death and alleged crimes come amid continuing chaos in South Beach, where police have arrested hundreds of partiers involved in violence and property destruction. Most of those involved have not been college students on spring break, but adults from Florida and out of state, authorities have said.
The two men arrested in Miami Beach, Evoire Collier, 21, and Dorian Taylor, 24, have been charged with sexual battery as well as burglary with battery, theft and credit card fraud.
Englehardt was found dead last Thursday after officers responded to “reports of an unconscious female” at a South Beach hotel, according to a police report.
One of her family members told NBC 6 South Florida that Englehardt traveled to Miami alone.
The men are accused of stealing Englehardt’s credit cards to help fund their South Beach vacation, the report says. Online jail records did not indicate whether the two had an attorney who could speak for them.
Whether the two are charged with manslaughter or murder will depend on what caused the woman’s death, which a medical examiner has not yet released.
Investigators are looking into whether Englehardt died of a drug overdose, possibly a substance supplied by the men, who said they gave her a “green pill,” according to the arrest report.
Court papers state Englehardt was found dead at Albion Hotel about 1 p.m. Thursday.
Video surveillance from the hotel showed the two men entering the lobby with her about 1 a.m., according to court documents. Police said the two were seen leaving the hotel about 35 minutes later.
Taylor was taken into custody Sunday, according to court documents. Collier was trying to cover his face after leaving the hotel, police said. He was arrested Saturday, court documents state.
Many shared their condolences and memories of Englehardt online after news of her death this week.
Ashton Torrijos donated $100.
“My memories of Christine are all positive,” Torrijos wrote. “She was a friend, and coworker of mine when I lived in Warminster ... I remember many fun weekends, going across the street for bonfires. Christine was full of life, and it angers and saddens me to see this happen to her. My heart goes out to her family and anyone who knew and cared about her.”