If you listened to the radio yesterday you might have heard a popular talk radio show, The Ron and Don Show, discuss the unsolved North Bend New Year’s Day hit and run case – and the rumor that a small Snoqualmie Valley town has known for two months who is responsible but kept quiet.
The King County Sheriff’s Office says the case is ongoing and moving forward, but what will it take to make an arrest and close it?
Is the community keeping quiet or do the majority just not have the first-hand knowledge of events that led up to the New Year’s tragedy? Yesterday’s report seemed to insinuate some have this knowledge but are choosing not to share it.
Lucinda (Lucy) Pieczatkowski was struck and killed by a driver who left the accident scene early New Year’s Day. The following day a tip led police to a late-model, white Ford F150 truck they are quite confident was responsible. The truck was found in the North Bend area.
There has been no confession in the case; no guilty party has stepped forward. It appears there were no witnesses to the accident. These circumstances make the case more challenging.
According to yesterday’s radio report, The King County Sheriff’s Office say many people have contacted them stating everyone in the community knows who the truck belongs to and who did it. The problem is few with first-hand knowledge have come forward.
A parent interviewed in the story contacted police with information he/she learned from their teenager about the accident. That parent said they were told that their information was similar to what the detective believed happened that night – that someone left a party in Fall City and was allegedly drunk behind the wheel of the vehicle that struck and killed Lucy.
According to King County Sheriff Office spokesperson, Cindi West, what would help the case is for police to hear from someone with first-hand knowledge of the truck and its driver being at or leaving this party. They would like a party attendee to come forward with information beyond just hearsay.
Will it happen? It’s been two months. The $1,000 Crime Stoppers reward for information leading to an arrest is still out there.
Sergeant West wrapped up her Kiro Radio interview saying the right thing isn’t always the easy thing to do, but that people need to do the right thing.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Comments
Why do they need first hand people to come forward? If they have been told by ANYONE who knows who did this then that should be sufficient.
I would assume in order for charges to be filed and to bolster a court case. Someone as an eyewitness putting the driver behind the wheel and at the party to bolster a solid court case. Things have to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Hearsay is repeating what someone else has told you.
Who is the pickup registered to? If the broken headlight found at the scene matches damage done to the pickup, then that places it at the scene, no? Are there fingerprints on the pickup? Is there a registration paper in the glove compartment? I don’t understand how they don’t know who is responsible if they’ve impounded the pickup.
This breaks my heart and brings back memories of when Todd Berkebile was murdered. Lots know who did it, but still no arrest after over 25 years. This is a tragedy for everyone all around. I hope for the sake of the person that did it, that they come forward and start to heal the family and the community.