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Third arrest made in fatal hit-and-run case
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More from Local NewsSanta Paula police arrested a third person in connection with the hit-and-run death of a 2-year-old boy this week but later released her, authorities said Friday.
Cindy Marie Nunez, 36, of Santa Paula was taken into custody about 7:45 p.m. Thursday, police Lt. Mike Saviers said. She was later released, pending further investigation, Saviers said.
She was initially arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run, causing death or injury and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, Saviers said.
Police said she was a passenger in a pickup truck that struck and killed Charles Goodrich as he was being pulled in a wagon by his mother on a West Main Street sidewalk next to an elementary school Wednesday afternoon. The 2-year-old was taken to Santa Paula Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses told police the pickup jumped the curb and went onto the sidewalk, hitting the wagon with great force. The pickup then sped away, police said. A motorcycle officer later spotted the pickup on Hobbs Circle.
Police arrested Roberto Villanueva, 25, of Santa Paula, saying he was driving the pickup. Villanueva was booked into Ventura County jail on suspicion of felony leaving the scene of an accident, felony manslaughter with gross negligence and a parole violation.
The pickup's owner, Albert Garcia, 31, of Santa Paula, was a passenger in the truck and was booked into jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, police said.
Garcia pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday in Superior Court. Villanueva has yet to be arraigned.
Posted by CatInAHat on May 17, 2008 at 2:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can more that one person, the driver, be responsible for the actual hit and run?
Posted by steveb36701 on May 17, 2008 at 5:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
cat, the same way the driver of a getaway vehicle can be charged if a murder occurred during the crime. The two passengers had knowledge of the crime and are required by law to report it.
Posted by keepin_it_real on May 17, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every person in the vehicle had a legal and MORAL responsibility to report the accident. A young child died before he could even start his life. Even though the driver sped away, I understand the passengers couldn't do anything about that, but no one called to report the accident or went back to the sceene. They all hid like cowards, leaving this precious child to die.
None of these scumbags deserve any sympathy from anyone!!!! Send them to prison and throw away the key.
The lives of the families of this little boy will never be the same. Especially the mother, I can not even imagine what she went thru at the sceene of the accident, being there and seeing it. Having to tell the rest of the children their brother passed.
I will be very interested in finding out what their defence will be and the sentancing. They all deserve to be behind bars!!!!!
Little Charles RIP....
Posted by sonofojai on May 17, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Completely reprehensible. It is hard to imagine any excuse which justifies driving away from the scene of this horrid an event.
What do you say to the judge if you are the lawyer stuck representing the driver n court? Some behavior speaks too loudly for itself.
Posted by CharliesAuntie on May 17, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As Charles Aunt, please know we (the family) read these posts:) I want to thank you all for your concern and prayers for our family! Please do not change the way you live your daily lives, God has a plan and is a JUST God and will slap a fair punishment upon the perps in His timing. Keep enjoying life walking your children to school, let them ride their bikes and enjoy the sunshine, let them live in the free country in which we live.
And again, thank you Santa Paula and all of Ventura County for the outpouring love and support you have shown my family. Thank you to those that assisted that horrible, horrible day!
In Christ,
Charles' Auntie
myspace.com/charlesgoodrich
Online memorial
Posted by keepin_it_real on May 17, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
charlesauntie==you must be an amazing family. I am amazed by your strength and trust that these killers will get the punishment they deserve. Your post brought tears to my eyes. I have been following this story closely and I don't even live in S. Pla. But I am a Mom and can't even imagine what you are all going thru.
God bless you all, and God bless little Charles. RIP little boy.
Posted by NightLight on May 20, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charles' Aunt, your message was one of the most incredible, touching messages I've ever read. I'm so very sorry for what your family is going through, but the thought that in your pain you're thinking of other families and other children is so amazing. God Bless you and your family, and your little angel who is in Heaven watching over all of us now.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 20, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shouldn't the driver be cited for hit-n run? Or both even would be right. Anyone in the truck with knowledge of this should have been.
Again my prayers to the family and loved ones.
Charlies Aunt, you have a heart of Gold and my prayers are with you all........May God be with you during this tragic time.
Posted by Brokensadperson1 on June 10, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ppl i feel sorry about the little boy :(((
but keep your opinions to yourself ok?!!!
I'm sure after all this they should all go to jail for like 8 years but idk what if they hav family to how do u think they fill?!!
Charles Anti yes they are in jail and i'm really sorry about Charles my cousin put flowers over by where he died and yea really sorry about your loss...
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