BRENTWOOD, N.Y. (1010 WINS) – A woman on Wednesday pleaded guilty to fatally striking a woman in 2022, then fleeing the scene, and attempting to hide her car which had sustained extensive damage from the crash, Suffolk County officials announced.
Madeline Henriquez, 22, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second degree, leaving the scene without reporting, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, and reckless driving.
On May 23, 2022 at approximately 10:08 p.m., Henriquez was driving a 2012 Hyundai Elantra eastbound on Motor Parkway at a high rate of speed when she swerved into the northbound lane of Wicks Road, striking a vehicle and subsequently striking 28-year-old Cherokee Fletcher, who was standing on the southeast corner of Motor Parkway and Wicks Road in Brentwood, according to District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
Henriquez did not slow down or stop at the scene and proceeded eastbound on Motor Parkway until she returned to her home, officials said.
Fletcher, who had five children between the ages of one to seven years old, was killed as a result of being struck by Henriquez.
"Cherokee Fletcher was a mother of five young children. She was standing at a light waiting to cross the street after getting cash for one of her kids to attend a field trip. As she stood feet from the home she shared with her children, this defendant drove up onto the sidewalk and crashed into
her. Instead of stopping and getting help or rendering aid to Cherokee, this defendant drove away leaving her to die, and later attempted to conceal her cowardly crimes," said District Attorney Tierney.
Henriquez admitted she later had a tow truck pick up the Hyundai and bring it to another residence in Brentwood for repairs related to the damage from the crash.
The windshield and passenger side of Henriquez’s vehicle had extensive damage consistent with being involved in a crash with both a vehicle and a pedestrian, authorities said.
A search warrant was granted for Henriquez’s cell phone which she agreed to provide to police during her surrender.
Henriquez instead provided a phone that was not in use at the time of the crash in an effort to conceal evidence showing her knowledge of the crimes, officials said.
She is due back in court on May 19, for sentencing, and is expected to be sentenced to 3 and a half to 10 and a half years in prison.
"There are no penalties under the law that can make up for the fact that there are five children right now who are left without a mother because of this defendant’s recklessness."
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