Yarina Garcia,Gloria Hernandez Obituary – A 15-year-old boy, who was allegedly driving his parents’ car without permission and caused a fatal accident in Hialeah, has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. Despite the plea, he will remain in custody until his trial.
During a hearing on Thursday, the attorneys representing Maykoll Santiesteban agreed to his continued detention without arguing against it at this time. They entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Santiesteban appeared before a judge on Wednesday, a day after the state attorneys formally charged him as an adult. The charges include two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of reckless driving, and three counts of driving with a suspended license causing harm.
According to the police, Santiesteban was joyriding with friends on April 23, driving at a speed of over 80 mph in a 30-mph zone when he collided with another vehicle. The accident resulted in the death of Yarina Garcia and Gloria Hernandez, who were aunt and niece. Liliana Hernandez Molina, Hernandez’s mother and Garcia’s sister, is still in critical condition and recovering from the crash.
The defense attorneys had requested house arrest for the eighth-grader, emphasizing his lack of criminal history and low flight risk. However, the judge denied their request and ordered Santiesteban to be held without bond, citing potential danger to the community. Santiesteban’s next court appearance is scheduled for July
