A Las Vegas woman who drove off after striking and killing a pedestrian with her Tesla has been ordered to prison in a case that rattled a tight-knit jiu-jitsu community and a young family. Court records show 63-year-old Karen Cannon was sentenced Wednesday to a term of 38 months to eight years behind bars for the hit-and-run crash that killed 32-year-old Patrick Deloriea on May 13, 2025, at North Rainbow Boulevard and Vegas Drive.
According to court records and reporting by KSNV, Cannon pleaded guilty to reckless driving resulting in death and hit-and-run resulting in death. Prosecutors told the court the punishment reflected not only the fatality but also what they described as efforts to hide damage to the car after the crash.
Crash and official update
The deadly collision unfolded at about 1:18 a.m. on May 13, 2025, when a Tesla heading along North Rainbow struck a pedestrian crossing north of Vegas Drive. Deloriea was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department later confirmed the involved vehicle had been located and taken into police custody, and said the case remained under review by its Collision Investigation Section, according to an update from LVMPD.
Repairs and the 'coyote' claim
Investigators say Cannon did not stay at the crash scene. Instead, they allege she later brought the damaged Tesla to at least two body shops and told workers she believed she had hit an animal. That explanation, authorities say, came even as the car showed severe front-end damage.
One shop owner, spotting the extent of the damage and what appeared to be biological material, decided something was off and contacted police. Reporting by FOX5 and other local outlets said Cannon paid in cash, skipped an insurance claim and moved quickly to get the repairs done before detectives linked the Tesla to the fatal hit-and-run.
Speed and evidence
When police tested the Tesla, they found it had been moving at roughly 66.3 mph in a 35 mph zone at the moment it struck Deloriea. Surveillance footage along the route, combined with debris left at the crash site, helped investigators tie the vehicle to the collision, according to reporting by 8 News Now.
Investigators also noted that certain video files they expected to find on the car were not preserved. They documented that portions of the front fender appeared to have been handled at a repair shop, details that would later surface in court records.
Legal implications
Cannon initially faced multiple counts, including reckless driving resulting in death, failing to stop at the scene and destroying or concealing evidence. Court filings show she ultimately entered guilty pleas to reckless driving resulting in death and hit-and-run resulting in death before receiving her sentence.
The 38-month-to-eight-year prison term was entered in Clark County court, according to KSNV.
Friends and teammates described Deloriea as a devoted father and a regular on the local jiu-jitsu mats. His wife, Rebecca Hahn, told the Las Vegas Review‑Journal, "She left the father of my child alone on the street. That is unacceptable and unforgivable."
LVMPD has continued to list the case as active and urged anyone with information to contact the Collision Investigation Section or Crime Stoppers. With Cannon now sentenced, court records show the criminal case has moved into the post-sentencing phase in Clark County.
