◼ Authorities seek Mustang passenger for questioning
Authorities investigating an illegal street race that claimed the life of a 9-year-old girl and seriously injured her mother, are searching for a passenger in one of the vehicles involved in the race -- Jodene Louise Aubrey.
According to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brett Fabbri, 32-year-old Aubrey was one of three passengers riding in a 1998 silver Ford Mustang that was driven by Anthony Marques Flores.
Fabbri said authorities have already interviewed the other passengers -- Ryan Reynolds, and Flores' girlfriend Brittany Ferris -- but have not been able to locate Aubrey.
Aubrey is Ferris' mother, and according to Fabbri, “Brittany doesn't know where she is either.”
”It sounds like she doesn't want to come forward and talk about this case, which makes us a little suspicious,” Fabbri said. “We just want to find out her account of what happened in the accident.”
According to CHP information, Aubrey has been known to frequent Eureka, Crescent City and Willow Creek. Fabbri said anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the CHP.
On Oct. 6, Flores was allegedly racing Jason Bradley Whitmill on State Route 299 when Whitmill's 2004 Pontiac Sunfire clipped a Chevrolet Tahoe that was driving the same direction.
The Sunfire and Tahoe swerved off the roadway and down an embankment, where the Tahoe flipped and collided with a utility pole, leaving the Tahoe driver, Debra Quigley, seriously injured, and killing her 9-year-old daughter Nicole.
Shortly after the collision, according to a court document, Aubrey took possession of the Mustang and told Flores she would “take care of” the damage to the vehicle. When the Mustang was found following an extensive search six days after the collision, the vehicle had been spray-painted black.
Flores faces a manslaughter charge for his role in the collision, and Whitmill, who was allegedly driving drunk at the time, faces a murder charge. However, Fabbri said it is unlikely any charges would be brought against Aubrey.
District Attorney Paul Gallegos said he considered filing accessory charges against Aubrey for her alleged role in hiding the vehicle, but has decided not to follow through with charges.
Sean Garmire can be reached at 441-0514 or sgarmire@times-standard.com.
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard
Posted: 10/17/2008 01:24:14 AM PDT
***
Related:
09
◼ Whitmill and Flores trial date delayed another month 08/04/2009
◼ Whitmill, Flores take District Attorney's deal 12/05/2009
◼ Jury selection begins in trial of Whitmill, Flores 11/23/2009
◼ Whitmill, Flores trial to proceed 11/10/2009
◼ Motion denied to suppress blood sample in Whitmill case 11/06/2009
◼ Whitmill faces murder charge for alleged role in crash 10/15/2008
◼ Quigley family, friends remember 9-year-old Nicole 10/06/09
◼ Nearly one year ago 10/01/2009
◼ Case surrounding fatal crash on Highway 299 delayed 09/15/2009
◼ Too many delays 9/10/09
◼ Legal maneuvers slow case of men charged in 9-year-old's death 09/01/2009
◼ Whitmill and Flores trial date delayed another month 08/04/2009
◼ Evidence, charges unchanged against Whitmill 07/17/2009
◼ Evidence for second degree murder charge? 06/19/2009
◼ Thinking of the Quigleys 05/29/2009
◼ Remember Nicole 05/08/2009
◼ Looking forward: Quigley family watches and waits as case continues 05/17/2009
◼ Defendants in 299 wreck plead not guilty 03/28/2009
◼ Judge holds Whitmill, Flores to answer for 299 wreck 03/14/2009
◼ Wife refuses to testify against husband at preliminary hearing 03/13/2009
◼ Investigator testifies suspect in fatal crash changed story 03/12/2009
◼ Officer testifies about 299 crash at prelim 03/11/2009
◼ Preliminary hearing over Highway 299 wreck continues 03/10/2009
◼ Superior Court delays hearing in 299 crash case 02/11/2009
◼ Broken system 01/23/2009
08
◼ Hug your children 12/03/2008
◼ Vehicular manslaughter suspect has extensive criminal history 11/13/2008
◼ Whitmill-Flores hearing continued 11/06/2008
◼ Street race case waiting on CHP reports 10/23/2008
◼ Authorities seek Mustang passenger for questioning 10/17/2008
◼ Court document: Flores tried to 'subvert' investigation 10/16/08
◼ Whitmill faces murder charge for alleged role in crash 10/15/2008
◼ Authorities arrest driver of Mustang 10/10/2008
◼ New driver named in fatal collision 10/09/2008
◼ Search continues for other driver in fatal crash 10/08/2008
◼ ER Parolee named as driver in fatal collision
◼ TS New driver identified in fatal crash
◼ TS New driver named in fatal collision
TS Update: ☛ TS Police still looking for driver
◼ TS Driver sought: Suspected drag race on 299 results in fatal crash
Note: there were other articles in the Eureka reporter, but none are available online anymore.
