Woman accused of killing 8-year-old Lake City girl in hit-and-run after investigators discover ‘fabricated’ statements

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a second person in connection to the hit-and-run in Columbia County that killed an 8-year-old girl from Lake City after learning that the man believed to be the driver was at work while his wife was the one behind the wheel.

FHP said Kenia Gonzalez and her husband, Julio Cesar Marquez, who was originally arrested for the crash, “fabricated their original statements,” which Gonzalez admitted to when law enforcement approached her with the evidence.

“Investigators learned Mr. Marquez was at work during the time of the crash and were able to corroborate the information using surveillance video,” FHP said. “Using other surveillance videos, investigators were further able to prove Mrs. Marquez was operating the vehicle in the area during the time the crash occurred.”

Gonzalez has been arrested and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving a Death and Making a False Police Report, while Marquez is charged with being an Accessory After the Fact and Knowingly Giving False Information to law enforcement officers.