San Pablo, California – A 39-year-old woman has been charged with murder after allegedly striking and killing a suspected package thief with her car, according to the San Pablo Police Department. The incident occurred on December 8, at around 2:30 p.m., when officers responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Broadway Avenue. The 60-year-old pedestrian suffered severe injuries and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, she passed away on December 23.
According to authorities, the driver, identified as Dene Blakely, had a confrontation with the victim over the theft of packages. Blakely allegedly recognized the victim as someone who had previously stolen a package from her residence. The dispute escalated, leading Blakely to intentionally strike the victim with her car. It is unclear whether the victim actually stole any packages or if it was a case of mistaken identity.
Immediately after the incident, Blakely was arrested at the scene by law enforcement. She was initially charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office on December 12. However, following the victim’s death, the charges were upgraded to murder by the prosecutors on Friday.
Blakely appeared in court where she was arraigned on the amended charges. The judge set her bond at $1 million, and she is currently being held at the Contra Costa County Jail. Her next court date is scheduled for January 30.
The identity of the victim has not been publicly disclosed at this time. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.