An Orange County man, already with a criminal history, is facing serious charges including felony gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after a deadly chain of events that began with Lego theft. Anthony Michael Hanzal, 43, from Anaheim was allegedly seen by undercover police stealing Legos from a Fullerton grocery store, according to a report from the Orange County District Attorney's Office. He is accused of leading the police on a high-speed chase that culminated in the tragic death of a 67-year-old woman.
Following the theft at Albertsons grocery store on December 18, Hanzal was trailed by police in what turned into a pursuit with speeds nearing 90 miles per hour on surface streets. During the chase, he allegedly collided with the car of Marianne Mildred Casey who died on impact, according to the district attorney's statement. Hanzal faces a total of 26 years and four months if convicted on all counts, which, include evading a peace officer causing death and petty theft with two prior convictions, as detailed by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his outrage over the incident, "Enough is enough. Actions have consequences and I am mad as hell that an elderly woman is dead because a drug addicted repeat thief decided to steal Legos from a grocery store and then lead multiple police agencies on a high-speed chase through Orange County in the middle of the day," in a statement made by the Orange County District Attorney's Office. "Marianne Casey's family should be planning their holiday celebrations and instead they are planning a funeral because California’s soft-on-crime policies have created an environment where there is no accountability." Spitzer's comments reflect a frustration with current policies that he believes fail to adequately deter repeat offenders.
Hanzal, who is being held without bail, is scheduled for arraignment on January 6, 2025. The case is taken up by Deputy District Attorney Devin Campbell of the Homicide Unit.
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