California woman Andrea Dorothy Chan Reyes facing extradition from Adelaide to Los Angeles over fatal ‘hit run’ crash
An American businesswoman wanted by the FBI and found living in Adelaide is facing extradition to the United States, over allegations she killed a cyclist in a California hit-run crash.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An American businesswoman wanted by the FBI and found living in Adelaide is facing extradition to the United States, over allegations she killed a cyclist in a California hit-run crash.
Authorities launched a worldwide manhunt for Andrea Dorothy Chan Reyes, 33, amid claims she fled Los Angeles almost two years ago after mowing down father-of-four Agustin Rodriguez Jr, 46.
Mr Rodriguez’s devastated family welcomed her arrest but told The Advertiser of their ongoing heartbreak and fight for justice over his death as he rode to a new warehouse job.
Driving a luxury car, the Filipino-born financial analyst and fraud auditor is accused of his “vehicular manslaughter” hit-run in Whittier, in LA’s inner south east, at 7.32am on January 30, 2017.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation considered her among its most wanted after she fled to Asia days later but special agents eventually tracked her to Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Acting on an FBI international “fugitive warrant”, the Australian Federal Police arrested her during April raids on her Paralowie home, where she lived with a new boyfriend.
She was also subject to an Interpol extradition “red notice”.
She today remains in custody at Adelaide Women’s Prison as she awaits extradition to LA and interviews with local Whittier Police Department detectives.
But the Adelaide Magistrates Court this week heard her extradition has been delayed as her new legal team seek bail amid highly complex legal argument.
They declined to comment outside court, as did Federal Government lawyers.
Chan Reyes, accused of having at least 11 aliases and who was educated at some of the world’s leading universities, faces up to 15 years in jail if a US District Court jury convicts her.
As the local community rally, Mr Rodriguez’s relatives on Tuesday told how their family has not been the same since his death.
He was a deeply religious “family man” who worked hard for his adored children — the youngest of whom was two years old when he died.
“We lost a friend, uncle, brother, father, son and we will forever miss him and his smile that could light up a room,” a family spokeswoman said.
“Not having any closure or information on what’s going on with everything pretty much keeps that rawness of his death in our minds.
“He is deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him. He was a good man.”
She added: “(He was) someone you could come to for advice and he would straight talk you and give you exactly what you needed to hear. He would give the shirt off his back to someone in need.”
Detectives allege Chan Reyes drove her “pearl-coloured” late-model tinted Lexus at “high speed” when she hit Mr Rodriguez — known as Tin Tin or Tin — head on and dragged him almost 250m or two blocks.
Witnesses claimed she overtook on the “wrong side” another car that had stopped to allow him to turn off the residential street as he cycled to his father’s house almost 2km away to get a lift to work.
After “leaving the victim in the roadway” having slowed down, witnesses told police she fled the scene.
Court documents allege she fled to Hong Kong from Los Angeles Airport, LAX, on American Airlines Flight 193 five days later.
Acting on a tip off from a female colleague of Chan Reyes in March last year, police traced the car almost 1500km north to a house in Meridian, Idaho, owned by her former boyfriend’s business associate.
Chan Reyes, who lived 2.5km away from the crash site, had told a local repairer she hit a deer, causing major front windshield, and bonnet damage.
Police believe several people helped her cover up her alleged crime.
An Attorney General department spokesman said on Tuesday that Australian authorities acted “in response to a provisional arrest request made by the United States”.
An FBI spokeswoman added: “We are working through the international process to extradite her back to the U.S.”
The AFP declined to comment.
The case returns to court next month.
Originally published as California woman Andrea Dorothy Chan Reyes facing extradition from Adelaide to Los Angeles over fatal ‘hit run’ crash
Battle to save animals on the brink at Outback reserve
Conservationists are battling to save animals at an Outback reserve from the effects of the worst drought in recent memory, and have received a funding boost to redouble their efforts.
Country tradie to face court over incomplete work
A country tradesman will face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court over allegations he was not licenced and refused to refund money to clients.