A 22-year-old Maple Heights woman, Aniyah Cheyenne Blair, has pleaded not guilty after being indicted in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a 74-year-old pedestrian on Cleveland’s East Side. The crash happened on April 19 at the intersection of Lee Road and Miles Avenue. Police say the driver took off from the scene, and officers later tracked down a damaged SUV they believe was involved.
At Monday’s arraignment, Blair formally entered a not-guilty plea before Cuyahoga County Judge Nancy Fuerst, who kept her bond at $20,000. The judge also ordered Blair to surrender her driver’s license and to have no contact with the victim’s family. As reported by WKYC, Blair was released on April 20 after posting 10% of that bond, and a pretrial hearing is set for May 27.
Crash, Vehicle and Victim
Investigators say the collision took place in the early morning hours of April 19, when a Jeep Grand Cherokee heading north on Lee Road allegedly ran a red light at Miles Avenue and hit a woman who was crossing the street outside the crosswalk. The SUV then left the roadway, struck a concrete staircase and a metal railing, and lost a tire before officers later discovered the vehicle at another location, according to Cleveland 19. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 74-year-old Donna Godly.
Family in Court
Godly’s family packed the courtroom for the arraignment. Her granddaughter, Brandy Lutt, urged Judge Fuerst to revoke Blair’s bond, telling the court the family believes the driver left Godly “for dead,” a remark captured in court reporting. Lutt also told the judge that Godly had recently finished chemotherapy and was recovering from a stroke, details reported by WKYC.
Charges and Legal Penalties
Blair has been indicted on charges that include aggravated vehicular homicide, failure to stop after an accident, and tampering with evidence, according to court filings and reporting. Under Ohio law, failure to stop after an accident that results in a death can be charged as a felony according to Ohio Revised Code §4549.02, and tampering with evidence is a third-degree felony as per Ohio Revised Code §2921.12. Aggravated vehicular homicide is defined in R.C. 2903.06 and carries felony sentencing ranges and potential driver’s license sanctions under state law.
What’s Next
The case has been bound over to the Cuyahoga County grand jury and will move through the county’s court docket, with the next pretrial date scheduled for May 27. Cleveland 19 reports that prosecutors asked the judge at arraignment to revoke Blair’s bond, and attorneys for both sides are expected to return to court as the grand-jury and pretrial process continues.
.jpg){kind=link}