August 4, 2025 | By: Noelle Mazur

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Angela Maxwell was a beautiful, confident, and assertive older sister who loved singing and laughing. When she wasn’t performing or dancing at home, she was hard at work providing for her three young children. Her family cherished her kind heart but also admired the strong and independent woman she was.

One day after work, Angela returned to her apartment in Lake City, Florida, with two of her children and the cash from her paycheck. Just three days later, on August 5, 1992, Angela was found dead in her apartment, with her infant child lying in her arms, dehydrated and near death. Angela was only 20 years old. Her daughter was 11 months old, and her newborn son was just 3 weeks old.

Angela was last seen on August 3, 1992, after speaking with her neighbor—who was also her best friend, around 11 P.M. Over the next two days, some tenants reported hearing the children crying, but no one thought much of it at the time. On August 5, her 15-year-old brother stopped by the apartment to grab a drink of water after playing basketball with friends. When he found the front door locked, he looked through the window and saw his sister lifeless on the couch.

Angela’s killer has never been caught, and her case has remained cold for over 30 years. Although police preserved evidence, no suspects or leads have emerged. Decades later, Angela’s family continues to remember her beautiful spirit and mourn the tragic loss that took her from them.

Her sister Kenyatta, eight years younger, remembers her vividly. “I remember her smiling all the time,” she said. She describes Angela as a beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her. The two sisters were raised by their aunt in Olustee before Angela moved to Lake City.

Angela’s role as a protective older sister extended beyond her immediate family. Her strength and kindness left a lasting impression. “I met someone who told me he knew my sister and that she protected him when he was being bullied,” Kenyatta recalled. “She protected not only our siblings, but she also didn’t like seeing anyone being picked on.” While Kenyatta suspects Angela saw her and Erica as little brats growing up, she always felt protected, along with their cousin Erica, who was raised alongside them as a sister.

After Angela’s death, her mother, Ida Dixon, who was also her biological aunt, helped raise the children she left behind. When Ida passed away, Kenyatta and Erica stepped in fully, balancing work, college, and the responsibility of raising Angela’s children. Despite their dedication, the absence of answers about Angela’s death left an emotional void. “Not knowing who their mother was or what happened caused a lot of pain while they were growing up,” Kenyatta said. Though her children have gone on to live their lives, they still feel the deep absence of their mother.

Even now, Kenyatta remembers the smallest details—like the cereal Angela kept in her apartment just for her. Most unforgettable, however, was her sister’s voice. Angela often sang in church and was known for her soulful rendition of “Maybe God Is Tryin’ to Tell You Somethin” from The Color Purple. According to Kenyatta, the family often watches the film on Angela’s birthday or the anniversary of her death. “When that part of the movie comes on, I just get quiet,” she said. “I think I’m just remembering her in that moment.”

Thirty years after the tragedy, investigators have reopened Angela’s case. They are revisiting the original evidence and conducting DNA testing in hopes of finally identifying her killer. While her family is hopeful, they can’t help but feel that renewed interest has come too late.

For years, they’ve had more questions than answers. Police believed Angela likely knew her killer, as there were no signs of forced entry. The cash from her paycheck was also missing.

“We don’t know if someone just took the opportunity to steal some money—even if it wasn’t much,” Kenyatta said. “I don’t understand why someone would do that to her.”

Now that the case has been reopened, there is new hope for justice. But even in the absence of answers, Angela Maxwell has never been forgotten. Her memory lives on in the hearts of those who loved her most. As time passes, her legacy only grows stronger, rooted in love, family, and the enduring strength of those who carry her story forward.

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Anyone with information concerning Angela Maxwell’s unsolved homicide is asked to call the Lake City Police Department at (386) 719-2068. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at (386) 754-7099.

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