A fatal hit and run crash from six months ago may have been solved. Wednesday, state police arrested 41 year old Maria Romero of Rockford in connection with the death last March of 17 year old Emilio Perez.
Perez was walking along I-88 near Joslin when a car hit him and drove away.
State Police Master Sergeant Chris Endress says new evidence released last week resulted in an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers and that led to Romero and her vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe. Yesterday, police searched it and removed some parts.
Romero is charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and failure to report a failure accident. Her bond is set at $250,000 and she is scheduled to make her first court appearance this afternoon in Rock Island.
Ever since his son was killed, Al Perez from Villa Park has worked hard to find the person responsible for Emilio's death. He and his family have spent many weekends in the Quad Cities passing out flyers and they have posted his picture on billboards.
He thanked the police for their persistence in helping to solve the case and Jack Wainwright, who posted the Perez billboard on a garage he owns at a busy intersection in Carbon Cliff.
