Crime
Three Teenage Girls Killed in Othello Crash, Suspect Presiliano Perez-Pineda Held on Bail
OTHELLO, Washington — Three 15-year-old girls killed in a devastating crash near Othello have been identified as Yaritzi Flores-Romero, Melissa Romero-Espinoza, and Iris Ramos Cruz, as families and the community mourn their loss and seek support for funeral expenses.
According to relatives and online fundraisers, the three teenagers were the only occupants in a pickup truck at the time of the crash Sunday evening along West Bench Road outside Othello.
Loved ones have shared emotional tributes, describing the girls as vibrant young lives taken far too soon.
Authorities say the crash occurred on April 26, when deputies responded to reports of a rollover collision.
First responders found the pickup truck overturned, with all three occupants ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.
The vehicle was later recovered from an irrigation canal.
Investigators with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office determined that a second vehicle—a white Mercedes sedan—was involved in the crash.
Evidence collected at the scene, including surveillance footage and debris analysis, indicates the sedan allegedly struck the pickup at a high rate of speed, triggering the fatal rollover.
Authorities have arrested Presiliano Perez-Pineda, 19, of Othello, in connection with the crash. He made his initial court appearance in Ritzville, where a judge set bail at $1 million.
Prosecutors have charged Perez-Pineda with:
- Three counts of vehicular homicide
- A domestic violence enhancement, citing a prior relationship between the suspect and one of the victims
Investigators are also examining whether the crash may have been intentional, though the case remains under active review.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Othello community, with classmates, friends, and families rallying to support one another during the grieving process.
Fundraising efforts have been launched to help cover funeral costs and provide assistance to the victims’ families.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect allegedly fled the scene after the collision but was later located and taken into custody.
He remains jailed as the case proceeds through the court system.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing, with additional details expected as evidence continues to be reviewed.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has extended condolences to the victims’ families and urged anyone with further information to come forward.
Crime
Greenville County Murder-Suicide: Chloe Jade Brown and Dreak Wright Dead After Elmwood Avenue Shooting
GREENVILLE, South Carolina — A fatal shooting at a home on Elmwood Avenue in Greenville County claimed the lives of a man and a woman on Tuesday evening, October 13, 2026.
The victims have been identified in information shared with the public as Chloe Jade Brown, a young mother, and Dreak Wright. The incident has been described as a suspected murder-suicide.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to Elmwood Avenue before 9 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting.
Upon arrival, they found a man and a woman who had both sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
According to the supplied account, Wright allegedly shot Brown before taking his own life. The identities and sequence of events should be treated as reported information until confirmed by authorities.
Chloe Jade Brown has been remembered by friends and loved ones as a caring mother and a bright presence in their lives.
Following news of the deadly incident, tributes expressed grief over her death and concern for the children she leaves behind. Those mourning her have offered prayers for her children, family and everyone affected by the tragedy.
The loss of a mother has prompted particular concern for the children’s well-being and the emotional support they may need as they cope with their loss.
Some people sharing tributes to Brown alleged that she had experienced domestic violence. However, the information available does not independently confirm those claims or establish whether domestic violence played a role in the shooting.
Authorities have not provided further details in the supplied report about the circumstances leading up to the incident, the relationship between the victims or any previous reports of domestic disputes.
These details should be verified before being presented as established facts.
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Elmwood Avenue residence before 9 p.m. Tuesday. They found both victims dead from gunshot wounds, according to the agency’s initial account.
The incident has been described as a murder-suicide in the supplied information, but additional official confirmation is needed regarding the sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The tragedy has left friends and loved ones mourning both individuals, while tributes to Brown have highlighted the impact her death will have on her children.