Package theft dispute turns fatal after woman runs over accused thief: cops

An altercation over alleged package theft turned deadly after a California resident ran over the 60-year-old woman she accused of being the thief, according to local police.

Dene Blakely, 39, of San Pablo, California, is facing murder charges after the December 8 crash. The victim, who has not been identified, died from her injuries on December 23, the San Pablo Police Department (SPPD) said in a statement on Saturday.

Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on December 8, SPPD officers responded to the 1100 block of Broadway Avenue for a crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian where they found the 60-year-old victim with “major injuries,” according to the statement. The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery but succumbed to her injuries roughly two weeks after being hit, SPPD said.

Newsweek reached out via email and social media on Sunday to the SPPD for comment and update on the case. It was unclear at the time of publication whether Blakely had retained an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

Police “quickly learned” that 39-year-old Blakely was behind the wheel of the vehicle that struck the woman after a “verbal altercation” over the theft of packages had escalated, the SPPD’s press release said.

“The suspect believed to recognize the victim as someone who had previously stolen a package from her residence, and confronted the victim as she walked in the 1100 block of Broadway Avenue,” the department wrote.

Investigators believe the pair’s altercation became heated and resulted in the subsequent collision, according to the statement, which noted that evidence shows the crash was an “intentional act of assault.”

Police did not clarify at the time of publication whether the victim stole any packages or if it was a case of mistaken identity.

Blakely was arrested at the scene without incident and was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon, SPPD said.

Several days later, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed formal charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, following a review of the criminal case, SPPD said.

After the victim died, the District Attorney’s Office amended the complaint to include a criminal murder charge.

Newsweek reached out via email on Sunday to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for comment.

Blakely remains in custody at the Contra Costa County Jail on a $1 million bond. She’s due back in court on January 30, 2024.

SPPD said that the investigation is ongoing.