The Temecula woman accused in the hit-and-run death of a 13-year-old Menifee boy was officially charged today with three felony counts, including murder.
Melody Valdez, 21, is charged with the murder of Cody Valentino Garcia Villatoro, who was riding his e-bike in the crosswalk at the intersection of Holland Road and Evans Road on the afternoon of Sept. 15 when he was struck by the suspect vehicle as she was fleeing police. Cody died of his injuries.
Valdez was driving at a high rate of speed westbound on Holland Road when she ran a red light and struck Cody. She was fleeing from police who had responded to the report of a burglary in progress in the 27000 block Hemingway Court nearby. Following the collision, the suspect continued fleeing until the vehicle became disabled and came to a stop. Valdez, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was taken into custody.
In addition to one count of murder against the victim, identified in court documents as John Doe 1, Valdez is charged with two other counts:
— A felony charge that on Sept. 15, Valdez “did willfully, unlawfully, and maliciously deface with graffiti and other inscribed material, damage, and destroy property that was not their own, the amount of such defacement, damage, and destruction being Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00).”
— A felony charge that on Aug. 5, Valdez “did willfully and unlawfully commit an assault upon John Doe 2, with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, to wit: vehicle.”
No details were given about counts 2 and 3.
At the request of Valdez’ defense attorney, her arraignment was postponed until Sept. 29, when she is expected to enter pleas to the three felony counts. Meanwhile, she remains in custody with bail set at $1 million. Today’s court document lists a potential life sentence.
