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Investigation continues into deadly hit & run; still no charges

Early Wednesday morning, Nelson A. Soto, 45, was helping two women who had run out of gas outside his Washington Pike home. He and one of the women, Chasity E. Thornell, 24, who was seven months pregnant, were hit and killed by a driver who left the scene of the accident
Chasity Thornell

<Five days after a pregnant woman and a Good Samaritan were killed in a hit and run accident, no charges have been filed.Early Wednesday morning, Nelson A. Soto, 45, was helping two women who had run out of gas outside his Washington Pike home. He and one of thewomen,Chasity E. Thornell, 24, who was seven months pregnant, were <a href="http://www.wbir.com/news/article/221386/2/Two-killed-in-Washington-Pike-hit-and-run" target="_blank">hit and killed by a driver who left the scene of the accident.</a>That evening, Knoxville Police said they had located the vehicle and the man they believe was driving the truck, but he has not been charged and his name has not been released.On Monday, KPD spokesperson Darrell DeBusk said the investigation into the deadly hit and run is continuing. He said investigators conducted more interviews this morning, and more interviews are planned. He also said they are processing a tremendous amount of evidence recovered from the scene of the accident and at least one other location.DeBusk said the department is working closely with the District Attorney General's Office, and they will move forward with charging the suspect when the investigation is complete."You're looking at a double, possibly triple homicide, and we have one opportunity to present the evidence. And we're going to make sure that we've dotted the i's, crossed the t's, that everything is in order prior to seeking these charges. We must do that for the victims," said DeBusk.<br /><br />Officials have not made clear yet whether any charges would be placed against the suspect in relation to the unborn child. If an autopsy confirms the baby could have survived outside the womb, state law allows for the child to be counted as another victim of the crime.DeBusk said he expects charges to come "soon" in this case.<

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