RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – A Richmond grand jury indicted Eli Webb, 30, on a felony hit and run charge in connection with the death of 24-year-old Lanie Kruszewski.
According to sources in the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Webb is expected to turn himself in by mid-week.
Kruszewski was killed Sunday, July 29, while riding her bicycle at night along River Road. She was returning home after finishing her shift at Osaka’s Restaurant on Huguenot Road.
On Thursday, police sources told CBS 6 Webb admitted he was driving the SUV that struck Kruszewski.
Webb said he did not stop because he thought he had hit a deer, not a person.
According to court documents filed Monday, Webb failed to stop or give any assistance to Kruszewski.
Webb’s attorney, Keith Marcus, has already filed a motion to set bond for his client, claiming Webb has no criminal record, is employed by a media group and is not a flight risk.
CBS 6 legal analyst Todd Stone said the prosecution was being strategic in presenting the case to the grand jury before filing an arrest warrant.
“Going to the grand jury makes sense for the prosecutor because they get to bypass the preliminary hearing,” argued Stone. “They won’t have to put on their evidence at the preliminary hearing.”
According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin, there are several circumstances surrounding the case that prosecutors are still investigating.
If Webb was found guilty of the hit-and-run with death involved charge, he could face up to 10 years behind bars.
