In a recent court hearing, a 33-year-old Florida man, Kyle Hill, claimed to have no recollection of a fatal incident in which he is accused of causing the death of a woman and severely injuring her boyfriend. Hill allegedly drove his vehicle into theirs, forcing it off the road and into a concrete pole, under the mistaken belief that his ex-girlfriend was in the car.
The incident was discussed during Hill’s first virtual appearance in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. Hill informed Circuit Judge Philip Federico that he had no memory of the event, which resulted in the death of 28-year-old Arislenni Blanco-Medina and serious injuries to her boyfriend, 35-year-old Norbelis Figueredo-Campos.
During the hearing, Hill was unable to answer questions about the incident, according to footage obtained from the courtroom. When asked about the condition of his vehicle after the crash, Hill responded that he didn’t remember anything.
The police report suggests that Hill and his ex-girlfriend had an argument, after which she left in a car with a friend. Hill then allegedly pursued a Honda, which he believed his ex-girlfriend was in, and chased it for several blocks. However, the occupants of the Honda were actually Blanco-Medina and Figueredo-Campos, recent immigrants from Cuba who were on their way to a local Walmart.
The police allege that Hill forced the Honda off the road, causing it to collide with a concrete pole that subsequently fell and crushed the car. Blanco-Medina was killed in the incident, while Figueredo-Campos suffered serious injuries, including a broken femur and two broken ankles.
Hill lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree. His blood alcohol level was found to be 0.185, more than twice the legal limit. Initially charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, Hill now faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
Figueredo-Campos had been in the U.S. for about a year and a half, and Blanco-Medina had arrived a few months prior. Blanco-Medina was on the phone with her father and 9-year-old daughter during the incident, expressing fear for her life. The victims’ families shared their grief and shock at a press conference, remembering the couple’s joy and ambition upon arriving in the U.S.