Man accused of hitting and killing teen in LaBelle pleads not guilty

Writer: Carolina Guzman
Published: Updated:
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Hector Santiago Junior Credit: The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office

A man on trial for allegedly leaving a 15-year-old boy for dead in LaBelle has pleaded not guilty in court during his arraignment.

Hendry County deputies say 28-year-old Hector Santiago Jr. ran over Eduardo Escobedo and left the scene of a crash involving death in September, all while driving on a revoked license.

Deputies found the suspect’s Toyota the following day, with damage to the passenger side, but it took another three weeks to catch and arrest Santiago.

“I think about that drive whenever we pass there; what were his last thoughts?” said Selina Barron, Eduardo’s aunt. “Did he think, the last time he left his house, he would never see his little sister, his mom, his dad?”

Families along that stretch on Case Road want speed humps and more lighting.

Santiago will be back in court on Jan. 31.

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