A Florida woman smirked in court as she was charged over the hit-and-run death of an eight-year-old boy, in a crash which also left a 10-year-old badly injured.
Victoria Johnson made a series of disbelieving expressions during her first court appearance on Friday after the collision on Wednesday night in Winter Haven, 50 miles south-west of Orlando.
As the charges were read out, the 30-year-old initially looked aghast, before turning to her fellow jail inmates with her mouth open, eventually breaking out into a smile.
She continued to look bewildered before saying: ‘I wasn’t even in the car’. She was then told to not speak about the case.
The judge overseeing the hearing set her bond at $100,000, and Johnson wiped away tears as he did so, video showed.
According to Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the two boys were at a church function and had crossed over a road before being asked to walk back over the street.
The two, who have not been identified, were then hit by a vehicle. The eight-year-old boy was fatally injured and the 10-year-old suffered a broken arm, broken femur and a compound skull fracture.
Johnson was arrested the next day after she called police to report her car had been stolen. After it was recovered investigators said they found biological matter on it.
Johnson made her first court appearance on Friday via video conference when she made the outburst
The judge overseeing the hearing set her bond at $100,000, Johnson wiped away tears as he did so
Johnson called the sheriff’s office to report the Hyundai missing but when deputies arrived at her home she was not there, police said.
After they caught up with her near her home she told them three different versions of events, investigators said.
She said her car was stolen, before she claimed that she loaned it to someone who never handed it back over, and then that she gave it to a man named Corey Stewart to ‘get rid of it’.
As she was being taken to a station for questioning, the Hyundai was spotted being driven by Stewart with a female passenger, identified as Mya Bass.
Deputies followed the vehicle to a home where the two ran inside and refused to cooperate, police said. They were eventually taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest.
A search of the vehicle uncovered damaged and missing parts, as well as potential ‘biological matter’ consistent with a pedestrian strike, police said.
Investigators who spoke with Johnson said that she disclosed that she regularly abused crystal meth and had done so before driving that night.
Johnson was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, tampering with evidence, driving without a license, causing death, and giving false information to law enforcement.
The crash occurred outside of Faith Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida, on Wednesday
Investigators who spoke with Johnson said that she disclosed that she regular abused crystal meth and had done so before driving that night
Polk County Schools confirmed the young boy was a student at Boswell Elementary in a statement to The New York Post.
They said: ‘This is a terribly sad day for Boswell Elementary and our community. The child and his parents are beloved members of the Boswell family.
‘He had many close friends at school and was well-liked by all of the teachers and staff.
‘He was known for his incredible spirit and smile, as well as his willingness to help others.
‘We are heartbroken by this loss, and praying for all who knew and loved this little boy.’
