Slay suspect waives hearing
An Alaska woman accused of killing her newborn baby after placing him in a plastic bag in her parents’ Grand Junction home waived a preliminary hearing Monday. Morgan Hite, 22, faces arraignment Nov. 17. Attorneys on both sides will begin working on a plea agreement in the case. Hite faces first-degree murder charges and is custody at Mesa County Jail on a $1 million bond.
Hit-and-run driver sought
GYPSUM — Authorities are seeking the identity of a motorist who hit a child riding a bike at about 7 p.m. Friday.
The child was riding south in a crosswalk at Grundel Way and Valley Road. The vehicle pushed the bike about 15 feet and the driver left the scene without stopping, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
Information on the child’s condition wasn’t available late Monday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the case may anonymously call Eagle County Crime Stoppers at 970-328-7007 or 800-972-TIPS, or submit a tip online at www.tipsubmit.com. Tips leading to an arrest could earn up to a $1,000 reward.
Boy badly hurt in collision
An 11-year-old Montrose boy who was hit by a truck Thursday while riding a 3-wheeler near his home on Dave Wood Road is being treated for serious injuries in St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction.
According to Colorado State Patrol, the boy, whose identity was not released, was riding a 1982 Honda 250 north on 6250 Road near Vernal Drive about 7:30 p.m. He had no tail lights or brake lights and was slowing to turn onto a private road when he was hit from behind by a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck. The driver of the truck, James Murphy, 64, of Montrose, was not injured and no charges were filed.
A friend of the boy’s family, who asked to remain anonymous, said the 11-year-old was flown to Grand Junction with several serious injuries but should make a full recovery.
Mailboxes vandalized
At least 14 mailboxes in Whitewater took a beating Sunday night, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department. The mailboxes in the 7900 block and 8500 block of Bean Ranch Road sustained between $10 and $150 in damage each.
According to the Grand Junction Police Department:
• Melissa Basya, 28, and Angelica Sanchez, 26, received summonses for allegedly shoplifting at 2424 U.S. Highway 6 & 50.
• Skyler Christian Awad, 19, was arrested and booked into Mesa County Jail on suspicion of second-degree burglary, trespassing in a vehicle, theft of up to $20,000, drug distribution and possesion of burglary tools.
According to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department:
• Amber Marie Peterson, 22, 1610 N. 15th St., was arrested and booked into Mesa County Jail on suspicion of identity theft, forgery, theft of less than $500 and drug distribution.
