ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man has been charged for fleeing the scene of an accident that resulted in the death of a homeless man.
Richard Laususe, 75, has been charged with allegedly leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in Death. Laususe is being held with a bail of $250,000 cash only, no 10%, bond.
On Aug. 24, 2023, at 8:25 PM, St. Louis County Police Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call of a motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian, identified as Michael Murray, struck in the area of Halls Ferry Road and Sun Valley Drive.
Responding officers located Murray lying in the street. Murray, who was homeless, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Police investigated the crash, eventually matching a piece that was left at the scene of the crash to a Mercedes Benz C350 (model years 2010-2014).
A License Plate Reader Database (LPRD) located approximately 1.5 miles from the accident's location captured the defendant's vehicle traveling toward the accident location seven minutes before the accident.
Detectives executed a search warrant at Lausese's residence six days later and located the 2014 Mercedes Benz C350 in the garage.
Further inspection of the vehicle revealed damage to the front end of the vehicle consistent with an impact, and what is believed to be human hair on the undercarriage of the vehicle.
In an interview with police, Lausese acknowledged being at the scene of the accident, and getting out of his vehicle to observe the victim, who he believed was deceased, however, he denied being involved in the accident.
