A Florida man is facing a murder charge in connection with the killing of a woman he mistook to be his ex-girlfriend during a car chase.
The victim, 28-year-old Arislenni Blanco-Medina, was killed while on her way to a Walmart with her boyfriend in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Sunday, March 9, the St. Petersburg Police Department said in a statement.
Her boyfriend, 35-year-old Norbelis Figueredo-Campos, was severely injured in the crash but survived.
Investigators initially charged Kyle Hill, 33, with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide before upgrading the charges to first degree murder and attempted first degree murder, St. Petersburg police announced on Wednesday.
The incident unfolded following an argument between Hill and his ex-girlfriend early Sunday evening, per police. When his ex-girlfriend left in a friend’s vehicle — a Honda — Hill allegedly “decided to drive his Nissan SUV to go find her.”
During his drive, he spotted a Honda that he assumed his ex-girlfriend was in, and allegedly chased and harassed the passengers, police said.
He then allegedly threatened to kill her during the chase, St. Petersburg police said at a press conference, according to FOX 13.
He allegedly told her: “I got you. I’m going to kill you, your friend and myself,” Police Chief Anthony Holloway said, the outlet reported.
Meanwhile, Blanco-Medina and Figueredo-Campos were trying to escape the chase. During this time, Blanco-Medina was on the phone with her father and her 9-year-old daughter and expressed fears that Hill was going to kill her, her family said at the press conference, per FOX 13.
During the chase, Hill allegedly forced them off the road, causing the car to hit a concrete pole that fell on the car and crushed it, St. Petersburg police said in their statement.
Hill also hit a tree after losing control; police allege his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
It wasn’t clear if Hill’s ex-girlfriend is part of the investigation in any capacity.
The deceased woman’s family says the couple came to the U.S. from Cuba with “dreams and aspirations,” per FOX 13.
“She was always happy, always lovable, never, ever dull,” said Nicole Galvan, Figueredo-Campos’s cousin.
“You would go to her house, and you would always hear music, and she would always be dancing,” Galvan said. “Her and her boyfriend would always have music and always just bring a brighter and more positive vibe to anyone who was dealing with anything around them.”
