By: Steve Schuster, [email protected]//January 6, 2024//
By: Steve Schuster, [email protected]//January 6, 2024//
Authorities are seeking help from the public investigating the death of 19-year-old Taya Grimes who was killed New Years Eve after being thrown from her car after driving into the ditch off of U.S. Highway 45. Authorities said a second vehicle dragged her body three miles from the crash scene, witnesses then fled the scene.
“We have not had the cooperation from everyone involved that we would have expected and hoped for in a tragedy like this,” said Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan F. Waldschmidt during a Friday press conference.
“Lack of cooperation began even before were on the scene when people and vehicles chose to leave that scene rather than remain there and help those were injured,” Waldschmidt noted.
“There are people at both the crash scenes and the party who are not cooperating,” Waldschmidt added.
Officials announced Friday that second individual may have been struck by a vehicle, which is under investigation.
“If you were out there and you have information. If you were at the party or somebody said something to you, please contact the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s office,” said Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney said at Friday’s press conference.
“Do not assume they already have that information. There are a lot of things they are still trying to track down,” Toney added.
Echoing the sentiments of Toney, Waldschmidt asked for people to come forward who have any information about the New Years Eve incidents.
“We know there are more individuals out there who can provide information about the party, this initial crash and the secondary crash … we’ve had many come forward already and are asking that anyone who has not yet come forward reach out to us and ask to speak to an investigator about what you know,” said Waldschmidt.
Anyone with information should immediately contact Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s dispatch at 920-929-3390 and ask to speak to a crash investigator.
For those who wish to share information anonymously the Fond du Lac County tip line is available by calling 920-906-4777.
“We work until we know the truth and we owe it to Taya, and her family. We owe it to the other victims and their families to get to the bottom of this and ultimately hold (those responsible) accountable,” said Waldschmidt, noting that the night people had come from an underage drinking party with both minors and adults who consumed both alcohol and drugs.
19-year-old Jatziel Encarnacion of West Bend has been arrested and faces charges of hit and run resulting in great bodily harm. Waldschmidt said he expects to have a referral to the District Attorney’s office for charges at some point next week.
The first incident occurred on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Auburn (on the Fond du Lac/Washington County line). The second incident occurred in Washington County.
Law enforcement officials including crash reconstruction experts “have been working on this investigation non-stop since last Sunday morning,” said Waldschmidt, who noted the Wisconsin Department of Justice crime scene response team has been assisting with the forensic evidence portion of the investigation.
Waldschmidt said that as of Friday his office has already interviewed more than two-dozen individuals, many of whom are from Washington and Dodge Counties.
“Not to water it down, but who knew and what did they know and when did they know it are keys to this investigation,” Waldschmidt noted.
In nearly three decades of working with the Sheriff’s office, Waldschmidt said, “this is one of the most complex crash investigations we’ve been involved in.”
At the end of the press conference both Toney and Waldschmidt fielded approximately 10 minutes of media questions.