The suspect, Rocendo Rosales-Corona, fled to Mexico after the accident, but when he returned to Lodi, Calif. he was arrested.
(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - A year ago last Saturday, Kimberly McDaniel (Formerly Powell; her parents have requested she now be referred to by her maiden name) was jogging along NE Frontage Road in Dodson (approximately MP 36 on the north side of I-84).
At about 11:00 AM she was hit by a westbound car which fled the scene leaving her severely injured and barley visible by the roadway.
A passing couple glimpsed the bright colored jogging top that Kimberly was wearing and stopped to investigate at 11:07 AM. The couple rendered what aid they could and called 911.
Kimberly was transported by ambulance to Emanuel Hospital with life threatening injuries. She died on 7/15/06 at 9:02 PM with her family at her side.
Immediately after the incident the Gresham/Multnomah County Vehicle Crimes Team (VCT) began an investigation.
Based on the initial VCT findings the East Multnomah County Crime Team was summoned and the case was treated as a possible homicide based on evidence they had at the time.
MCSO Det. Jay Pentheny and Gresham Det. Jason Servo took the lead and began an exhaustive process in obtaining information.
With only a non-descript passenger side mirror and the approximate time the incident occurred the detectives had very little to go on.
Then, in October 2006, they received credible information from a person in the SW region of the United States that helped them to identify Rocendo Rosales-Corona (DOB 3/28/82, Male Hispanic, 5'2", 135 lbs Resident of Mexico).
Also from this information they were able to find and seize the vehicle that struck Kimberly. The broken side mirror that had been left at the scene matched the car.
In efforts to locate Rosales-Corona Det. Pentheny and Det. Servo discovered he had fled the U.S. and was in Mexico.
In February 2007 Det. Pentheny began the process to have the U.S. Government extradite Rosales-Corona out of Mexico.
This process was still being pursued up until last Saturday.
In the past three weeks Det. Pentheny and Det. Servo obtained information that Rosales-Corona had reentered the U.S. and was in an area near Lodi, California.
Following up on these leads they went to Lodi last Friday, and by Friday night they had exhausted all of their leads with out success.
On Saturday, Det. Pentheny and Det. Servo followed up on an area Rosales-Corona might be.
The information on the area was vague and they didn't have high expectations that it would be fruitful.
At approximately 4:00 PM, however, they observed Rosales-Corona walking to a local store.
When he came out of the store they approached him and identified themselves as detectives from Oregon.
Rosales-Corona looked down and was not surprised to see the detectives.
One year to the day that Kimberly McDaniel's life was cut short due to a hit and run driver, Det. Pentheny and Det. Servo took Rosales-Corona into custody.
He has been charged with one count of criminally negligent homicide (Class A Felony) and one count of failure to perform duties of a driver to injured persons (Class B Felony).
Rosales-Corona will be extradited to Oregon in the near future.
The exhaustive and patient efforts of Det. Pentheny and Det. Servo and the invaluable assistance of the Lodi Police Department are attributed to the ultimate capture of Rosales-Corona.
Law enforcement personnel involved will not discuss any information related to informants in this case.
One Year Later, Suspect Arrested in Death of Kimberly PowellSalem-News.com