Latest news with #KrisEdwards
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
She was killed while walking to her car, family says. Man, arrested weeks later, is free on bail
A suspect arrested in the fatal hit-and-run killing of a woman in Hollywood in late June had his arraignment pushed back months Tuesday morning and is free on bail. Davontay Robins, 30, was in Los Angeles Superior Court for his arraignment following his July 22 arrest. Erika 'Tilly' Edwards was killed around 9 p.m. June 29; she had just finished performing at a nearby fundraiser, her husband wrote on Instagram. Kris Edwards was mourning the loss of his wife after they 'just bought a house ... to grow our family. We wanted to have kids and we were taking the next step to make a home. And now that's all gone.' Kris' sister Andrea Edwards wrote on a GoFundMe that Edwards was walking back to her parked car when she was struck by a black Mercedes G-Wagon. Robins was charged with felony vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run driving resulting in death, and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license due to a previous DUI, in the death of the 37-year-old Hollywood resident. Robins posted bail, listed at $50,000. His arraignment was continued to Oct. 16, according to the L.A. County district attorney's office. Kris Edwards told CBS News outside court on Tuesday, flanked by family and friends, that he was 'surprised that he was out on bail and that his bail was set so low.' 'It cost me more to bury her than it did for him to get out,' he said. 'Explain that to me. Robins was arrested in Hollywood, only a couple of miles from the scene of the incident. He is charged with striking and killing Edwards near the intersection of West Sunset Boulevard between North Gardner Street and North Sierra Bonita Avenue in Hollywood. He fled the scene and was arrested nearly a month later as police detectives reviewed security footage to identify the driver. Los Angeles police believe speed may have been a factor in the slaying. They impounded Robins' G-Wagon, which according to CBS was found in a body shop with some damaged parts already swapped out.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Hollywood fatal hit-and-run suspect makes first court appearance, ordered by judge not to drive
The suspect who was arrested last week for allegedly killing a woman in a Hollywood hit-and-run collision made his first court appearance Tuesday morning and remains free on $50,000 bail with an order in place not to drive. Davontay Robins was arrested at his home, not far from the Sunset Boulevard and Gardner Street deadly crash site, nearly one month after it happened. The husband and the father of 37-year-old Erika "Tilly" Edwards were at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse on Tuesday, seeking justice for Tilly. Tilly's husband, Kris Edwards, said being in the courtroom with the alleged suspect was difficult and painful. "I was surprised that he was out on bail and that his bail was set so low. Like, it cost me more to bury her than it did for him to get out. Explain that to me," Edwards said. He was also dismayed at the postponement of Robins' arraignment for nearly two months. The crash happened on June 29 around 9 p.m. when Tilly was struck by a Mercedes-Benz G Wagon when police say she was likely standing at the door of her car, waiting for the vehicle to pass, when she was hit and dragged more than 160 feet down the street. Los Angeles Police Department detectives said they made the connection to Robins as the suspect through security camera footage and an anonymous tip. Investigators located the G-Wagon at a body shop, which they believe Robins brought the car to repair the damage sustained in the crash. They said that some of the parts of the car had already been removed, and that there was spray paint on a portion of the vehicle's exterior. At the time of the accident, friends said Tilly was on her way home from a dance performance fundraiser for the LGBTQ Center, which was being hosted by one of her students. Robins was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and for driving on a suspended license. His arraignment court date was set for October 16. "He should spend a lot of time in jail. He should be gone for a long time … she's not coming back," Tilly's father Tony said after Tuesday's court hearing.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- CBS News
Husband of woman killed in Hollywood hit-and-run crash demands answers
The husband of a woman struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Hollywood on Sunday is demanding justice as authorities continue searching for the suspect. The crash happened just before 9 p.m. on Sunset Boulevard, according to Los Angeles police. They say that Erika, known by loved ones as "Tilly," died after she was struck by a blue Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. Instead of stopping to help, the driver continued, heading southbound on Gardner Street as they fled. "She didn't deserve any of this, she deserves so much better," said Kris Edwards, who spoke with CBS News Los Angeles from the backyard of the home he and his wife Erika had gotten the keys for last week. Kris Edwards with his wife Erika, who was known by loved ones as Tilly. Kris Edwards Edwards said that he received a text from his wife at 8:59 p.m. When he didn't hear from her at 10 p.m., he began to call. He says that he tried calling several times, receiving no answer. He then started to watch her shared location on his phone, trying to figure out where she was as her phone's location remained in the same spot for about two hours, even though she was supposed to be home from a pole dance performance at a fundraiser for the LGBTQ Center that evening. Edwards texted one of Erika's dance students and asked if they were still together, but they told him that she had left earlier. It was then that he says he came to the realization that something bad had happened. "It's at that moment, you just know when you know. I knew cause ... she would never not respond," he said. He drove down to Sunset Boulevard, hoping to see what was happening, when he was met by caution tape surrounding Sunset Boulevard and Gardner Street. While standing there, he heard a crowd of onlookers talking about a woman who was killed by a hit-and-run driver. "The phone starts to move, and I see her little dot moving across the screen, and it pulls into the Wendy's parking lot on Sunset just before you get to Highland," Edwards recalled. "And I'm walking around the parking lot looking for her car and I don't see it, so I start looking in all the windows to see if maybe she rode with somebody." Still, Edwards could not find his wife of eight years. He spotted the Medical Examiner's vehicle in the drive-thru and approached them. "I knock on his window, and I say, 'Excuse me, sir. Do you have my wife's phone in your car?' And he looks at me and goes, 'You need to get in the truck,'" Edwards said. The driver took him to speak with two LAPD officers who confirmed the tragic news. They told him that Erika was likely standing at the door of her car, waiting for the vehicle to pass when she was hit and dragged more than 160 feet down the street. "That's how I found out," he said. Kris and Erika Edwards. Kris Edwards "When I met her, I knew instantly that I wanted to propose to her," he said. "When I talked to my mom, she said love's weird. It's not finite, it's not measurable. It's just something that you know when you know. And on the other end of it ... I had that same feeling of just knowing that she's gone. I can't describe how it is to feel the world get darker. I didn't need to find the coroner — I knew." As LAPD investigators continue searching for the suspect, Edwards hopes that people can remember his wife the way he does. "She taught me how to do for love and not for expectation. ... She chased art and beauty for no reason but to experience it. She just opened my eyes to everything," he said. "She made me to the loving, accepting human I am." He also shared a message to the driver, asking them to turn themselves in. "Please come in. Don't do it for me ... do it for her dad who had to tell me that I had her for 12 years but he's had her her entire life and that's his baby girl," Edwards said. "He needs closure." Family members have created an online fundraiser to help Edwards as he wades through such a difficult time. It can be found by searching for the keywords, "Assist Kris in Erika's Final Farewell" via GoFundMe.
South Wales Argus
29-04-2025
- South Wales Argus
A local Abercarn hero who risked his life has passed away
46-year-old Tristram Kelvin Maggs from Abercarn sadly passed away February 28. Tristram was a much-loved figure in the Abercarn community and a loving father who leaves behind two young daughters, Olivia and Grace Maggs 15 and 14. He was better known by his nickname 'Tigger' which was given to him by his older sister Kristian Edwards when they were children. Tigger playing rugby as part of Abercarn RFC (Image: Kris Edwards) Tributes for Tigger have flooded in including a tribute from the woman whose life he saved back in 2010. On April 29, 2010, Lousie Whittaker lost control of her car whilst driving near Risca. During the crash Lousie's car rolled down a banking and caught on fire. Lousie was left trapped inside her car with no way to get out. Tigger with his family Kris Edwards, Carlie Griffiths , Grace Maggs, Olivia Maggs, Ben Edwards, Isabel Edwards and Simon Edwards (Image: Kris Edwards) Speaking of that day the 36-year-old said: 'It was awful, I just remember being trapped in the car that was crushed and the only window I could get out of was the passenger window and when I tried to get through that I was stuck.' Luckily for Lousie Tigger arrived. 'He basically could see I was stuck and tried everything to get me out. 'I didn't think I was getting out and at first, I was like I don't want to die then I looked at him and said you're going to have to leave me and Tigger said 'we aren't leaving don't you dare give up'.' Tigger with his father Kelvin Maggs (Image: Kris Edwards) Thankfully, more onlookers arrived at the scene and locals were able to move the car so Louise could escape. She said: 'They managed to push the car up and someone pulled me out and carried me away. The car just started going up and the flames engulfed the car. 'I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him, and I just want his family to know what an amazing man he was. 'It's surreal because he saved my life and he's not here it doesn't seem fair.' Louise Whittaker who was saved by Tigger (Image: Lousie Whittaker) More than three hundred people attended Tigger's funeral which locals helped fund via a GoFundMe page. The GoFundMe reads: 'If you knew Tigger, you'd know that he was an amazing man. 'He would always have the biggest smile and warmest heart. He would give his last to anyone who needed it.' A staggering £2,890 was raised for Tigger's funeral. He will be deeply missed by the Abercarn community.
