Immaculee Goldade.Photo: gofundme
Police in Washington state say they have arrested the hit-and-run driver who recently struck two 12-year-old girls,killing one of them.
Online recordsconfirm that Terry Matthew James Kohl, 32, is being held without bail at the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree burglary, two counts of duty in case of death at a vehicle accident, and two counts of possession of stolen property.
Immaculee was pronounced dead at the scene, while Kathleen survived the hit-and-run with serious injuries.
Investigators had tracked Kohl to a home situated on the outskirts of Tacoma, near Parkland.
“The SWAT team surrounded the house and called for the suspect to come out,” the statement reads. “He surrendered peacefully.”
Video of the arrest was posted on Facebook.
The statement adds that the investigators who “worked tirelessly on this case” managed to “tie the suspect to the burglary of a business where the truck was stolen, as well as identifying him as the driver of the truck at the time of the homicide.”
Officials thanked community members in the statement for the tips that helped lead to Kohl’s identification.
Speaking earlier this month to FOX 13, Immaculee’s father, John Goldade, said that his daughter’s death was no accident.
“This was somebody who veered into them and literally into the very large ditch which my daughter’s body was lying in for a couple hours,” John said. “The two were very close friends, and they were probably holding hands, is what I understand, during this, because they just really were close friends. There was a lot of youth and innocence in them.”
The grieving dad said he’ll miss Immaculee’s smile and her goodheartedness.
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“She just found joy in life and that was just her,” he said.
AGoFundMe campaignhas been set up to help pay for Immaculee’s funeral.
Kohl has yet to enter pleas to the charges he faces.
It was unclear if he had retained a lawyer Thursday morning.
source: people.com
