Vigil Held For Christine Englehardt, Woman Drugged, Raped And Found Dead In Miami Beach Hotel Room

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Candles and flowers now sit in front of the Albion Hotel in Miami Beach, in memory of Pennsylvania tourist Christine Englehardt.

"It could've been me, you, could've been anybody, that's what struck me that she's basically the same age as me and that this happened to her," said Miami Beach resident Cameron McLain.

While McLain doesn't know Englehardt, she says her heart broke after reading about her death.

According to officials, the 24-year-old came to Miami to celebrate spring break but instead was drugged, raped, robbed, and left to die in her hotel room.

"I've been in situations where people have offered me things and I didn't take them, but this could've happened easily to me or anyone when you're drinking a drink and you turn away and someone could put something in there so quickly, so it's scary," added McLain.

Friday Miami Beach residents and city officials came together for a vigil honoring Christine.

"I couldn't let Christine's passing be in vain," said vigil organizer Nick D'Annzio.

According to officials, security footage from Christine's hotel showed she could barely walk to her room.

Miami Beach police arrested two North Carolina men, 21-year-old Evoke Collier and 24-year-old Dorian Taylor.

D'Annzio is hoping Christine's death will bring about change on the beach.

"We're doing this to really create a dialogue on how we could bring real reform to the Deco District to mitigate crime and violence in the area so that this doesn't happen to future Christines," said D'Annzio.

But, Chopper 4 video from Friday night shows residents maybe getting some reprieve as there has been little to no tourists on the beach since the implementation of an 8 p.m. curfew. But despite the recently quiet nights, residents like McLain say she's still afraid in her own city and they will continue to mourn the loss of those who died during spring break.

"There was a Black man name Suwaye Amadou, who was killed in the street, shot and killed and there's not as much reporting about him as there is about Christine. Of course, her story is important but we should also talk about him and what happened to him too. I hope that he can be remembered and we can make it about both of these people who were killed innocently from spring break," said McLain.

As for Christine, D'Annzio says her family is thankful to the Miami community for honoring their daughter.

"I was in touch with her mom she sent a message that she was very grateful that she and her husband couldn't be here because they are making arrangements, her exact words were Christine was our world, we love her so much she did not deserve this," he added.