Danvers woman pleads not guilty to charges in Peabody man's death
By Janelle Randazza
PEABODY—A Danvers woman has plead not-guilty to charges which may link her to the death of 67-year-old 9 Beacon Street resident Gerald Harris.
Around 4:45 Saturday evening Harris went outside to back his car into his driveway in anticipation of Saturday night’s storm. At 4:52 p.m. a neighbor allegedly witnessed 46-year-old Rhonda Christ leave her parent’s Wagner Street home and back up “at a high rate of speed,” in her 2002 Toyota Camry, crossing over Beacon Street where the two streets intersect. The neighbor reported hearing a loud bang and saw Christ’s Camry back up Wagner Street without stopping.
Police say that Christ backed into Harris’ Chevy Monte Carlo, causing such a strong impact that it forced the parked car backwards ramming it into a light pole, which broke in half due to the force of the collision. According to her written testimony, Christ was aware she had hit something but had no idea that Harris was sitting in the front seat of the car.
Written reports say that neighbors came to Harris’ aid and called his wife, who had been in the shower when the accident occurred, out of their home. Harris, who appeared to have died after experiencing cardiac arrest on his way to the hospital, told his wife he was having trouble breathing. Doctors at Salem Hospital say they tried to save Harris “for at least 40 minutes.” What caused Harris’ cardiac arrest is still undetermined. Police say an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
Police reports say that Christ arrived at Peabody Police Station around 7 p.m. with her sister. After being read her Miranda rights Christ admitted to feeling “like she hit a vehicle” after backing up into Beacon Street, but said that she did not think she had done damage to the Monte Carlo and did not notice Harris sitting in the front seat. According to police records, a lethargic Christ, who appeared to have been crying, said she was in a hurry due to a license restriction, which only allows her to drive between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Christ said she had not been drinking but was fighting a cold and had taken cold and anti-anxiety medication around 3 a.m. that morning.
Christ, a Peabody High School graduate, has a spotty driving record dating back to 1987. Her record includes numerous speeding tickets, two drunk-driving charges and illegal possession of prescription drugs. Most recently Christ lost her driver’s license after a drunk driving charge that occurred in Salem in December of 2004. Her license was reinstated last July.
Christ is being held on $25,000 cash bail and is due back in court on March 8.
PEABODY—A Danvers woman has plead not-guilty to charges which may link her to the death of 67-year-old 9 Beacon Street resident Gerald Harris.
Around 4:45 Saturday evening Harris went outside to back his car into his driveway in anticipation of Saturday night’s storm. At 4:52 p.m. a neighbor allegedly witnessed 46-year-old Rhonda Christ leave her parent’s Wagner Street home and back up “at a high rate of speed,” in her 2002 Toyota Camry, crossing over Beacon Street where the two streets intersect. The neighbor reported hearing a loud bang and saw Christ’s Camry back up Wagner Street without stopping.
Police say that Christ backed into Harris’ Chevy Monte Carlo, causing such a strong impact that it forced the parked car backwards ramming it into a light pole, which broke in half due to the force of the collision. According to her written testimony, Christ was aware she had hit something but had no idea that Harris was sitting in the front seat of the car.
Written reports say that neighbors came to Harris’ aid and called his wife, who had been in the shower when the accident occurred, out of their home. Harris, who appeared to have died after experiencing cardiac arrest on his way to the hospital, told his wife he was having trouble breathing. Doctors at Salem Hospital say they tried to save Harris “for at least 40 minutes.” What caused Harris’ cardiac arrest is still undetermined. Police say an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
Police reports say that Christ arrived at Peabody Police Station around 7 p.m. with her sister. After being read her Miranda rights Christ admitted to feeling “like she hit a vehicle” after backing up into Beacon Street, but said that she did not think she had done damage to the Monte Carlo and did not notice Harris sitting in the front seat. According to police records, a lethargic Christ, who appeared to have been crying, said she was in a hurry due to a license restriction, which only allows her to drive between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Christ said she had not been drinking but was fighting a cold and had taken cold and anti-anxiety medication around 3 a.m. that morning.
Christ, a Peabody High School graduate, has a spotty driving record dating back to 1987. Her record includes numerous speeding tickets, two drunk-driving charges and illegal possession of prescription drugs. Most recently Christ lost her driver’s license after a drunk driving charge that occurred in Salem in December of 2004. Her license was reinstated last July.
Christ is being held on $25,000 cash bail and is due back in court on March 8.
posted by Janelle at 11:02 AM
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