(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The family of a woman who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident one year ago has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after prosecutors declined to press charges.
Tiffany Borre, 40, was crossing the street near Mannheim Road and Nevada Avenue in Leyden Township when she was hit by a car that left the scene around 2:30 a.m. on March 19, 2021, according to the Cook County sheriff's office.
Months later, Cook County prosecutors informed Borre's family they would not pursue charges because of "insufficient evidence," according to Stephanie White, the family's attorney.
"We have issued FOIAs to both county departments wanting to know what evidence was presented by the sheriff's department and to the state's attorney for felony review," White said Friday after the suit was filed. "No clear answers yet."
The sheriff's office later released a statement saying it made an arrest in the case but the state's attorney's office declined to approve charges.
"The Cook County sheriff's office conducted a complete and thorough criminal investigation into the hit-and run incident that led to tragic death of Tiffany Borre," the office said, including collection of surveillance video and DNA analysis.
"The office sympathizes with the family for the tragedy they have experienced and, through their attorney, has provided the family with numerous videos, witness statements and reports pursuant to their FOIA requests," it added. "Any allegations that sheriff's police did not do everything within their authority to aid the victim or investigate and secure charges in this horrific crime are false."
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office issued a statement Friday, too. It said prosecutors reviewed evidence presented by investigators last November.
"At that time, it was determined that the evidence was insufficient to meet our burden of proof to file criminal charges," the statement read.
"As prosecutors, we have both an ethical and legal obligation to make charging decisions based on the evidence, facts, and the law. We will review any additional information that is brought to us, as we remain committed to the work of justice for everyone in our communities."
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2022. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
