Man, girl dead, 2nd girl grave, in Pine Hills drowning

Man, girl dead, 2nd girl grave, in Pine Hills drowning

Susan Jacobson

Sentinel Staff Writer

12:48 a.m. EDT, October 17, 2009


Philippe Casseus was sitting by the porch of his Pine Hills condo, reading his Bible and keeping an eye on his 16-year-old daughter and her friend as they played in the community pool.

In an instant, tragedy struck as the girls began to drown. Casseus ran to save them, but he succumbed. None of the three could swim, said Diesseul Casseus, 58, Philippe Casseus' father.

"My first son and my first granddaughter," he sobbed at the Balboa Drive condo he shared with Philippe and Ruth Casseus.

Although the girl's grandfather said she had died, deputies said late Friday that she was in grave condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Her friend, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at Health Central in Ocoee.

The accident happened a little after 5 p.m. at Laurel Hills condominiums.

Jermichael Johnson, 28, had just arrived home from work at a Publix warehouse and heard Orange County K-9 Deputy Ronnie Bradshaw yelling for help.

The deputy had been on patrol nearby and responded to a 911 call.
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Man, girl dead, 2nd girl grave, in Pine Hills drowning