PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — A West Palm Beach couple was arrested and charged for their involvement in the hit-and-run death of a 54-year-old man in May.
As first reported by Boca Post, a high speed hit-and-run crash left a man dead in Palm Springs on Sunday, May 21st, 2023. PBSO deputies along with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to the scene near 1640 S. Military Trail at 8:28 PM where they found 54-year-old Ramon Alonso-Castellon deceased at the scene. Alonso-Castellon was operantly struck by a vehicle; however, the driver was not found at the scene.
The vehicle, a 2023 Dodge Charger, was located just east of the crash site. Investigators say it was reported stolen around the time of the accident.
Investigators say the Charger was seen traveling at a high rate of speed and running the red light at Forest Hill Blvd. and Military Trail just before striking Alonso-Castellon and fleeing the scene. Witnesses say they observed a couple flee from the vehicle which was found abandoned just east of the accident.
The Charger was reported stolen by registered owner, 27-year-old Juan Valladares, who lives in the nearby Turtle Cove apartments. Valladares requested that a deputy come to his apartment so he can report the stolen vehicle.
Valladares’s live-in girlfriend, 26-year-old Marina Mirabella told deputies that the car was stolen but changed her story when informed about the presence of CCTV cameras near the area of the crash. Mirabella then told deputies that she “panicked”, and “blacked out”, just after the crash, before fleeing on foot with her boyfriend.
Investigators say Valladares also changed his story and admitted to driving the vehicle just before the deadly crash. Valladares says that Alonso-Castellon stepped in front of the speeding his vehicle and that he fled because he panicked after the crash.
Investigators say that Valladares appeared to be impaired, several hours after the accident, and requested Valladares submit to a blood draw. Valladares complied without incident. It was later determined that Valladares had a BAC of .108. Investigators say he would have been impaired at time of the crash.
Hours later, investigators executed a warrant to search the apartment for the clothing worn during the crash. Investigators found the bloody clothing that, they say, was being concealed by the couple.
Through various detective means, investigators determined that the Charger’s average speed just before the accident was approximately 80 MPH, more than double the speed limit. A max speed of 106 MPH was recorded just before the crash.
Juan Luis Valladares and Marina Mirabella were arrested on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023. Valladares is facing the following charges:
- Vehicular Homicide
- DUI Manslaughter And Fail To Render Aid
- Leaving The Scene Of A Crash Involving Death
- Tampering With Or Fabricating Physical Evidence
Marina Mirabella is only currently charged with the following:
- Tampering With Or Fabricating Physical Evidence
- Giving False Information To Law Enforcement Officer During Investigation
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