Rachelle Escalante was a vibrant 17 year-old who had just finished her junior year at Miami High School. She loved her friends, loved to play sports, and while she was known to be fun-loving and generous -- if pushed into a corner -- she would not back down from a fight.
July 6, 1988, was a hot summer day and Rachelle went to a party with many of her friends from high school. After an argument broke out at the party, Rachelle stormed off by foot.
That same evening, Patrol Officers Lee Kinnard and Ray Hernandez were driving home when, in the distance, they saw what they thought was a dog moving slowly across the road. But, as they got closer, they realized it was actually a young woman crawling. They quickly stopped the car, got out, ran to the woman, and witnessed Rachelle gasp for her last breath of air, then die in front of them. Rachelle had been the victim of a hit-and-run. Could jealousy over a guy have pushed one of Rachelle’s schoolmates to take revenge, or did Rachelle have other enemies who may have wanted her dead?
Comments