Driver charged with manslaughter
Couple linked to ‘large-scale’ fraud case in Medicine Hat
CALGARY — Months before a man was accused of running over and killing his girlfriend with a rental sports car, the Calgary couple was in the middle of a “large-scale” fraud investigation in Medicine Hat that netted a string of charges.
Kristoffer Del Campo, 30, was charged with manslaughter after Lacey Yvonne Manion, 33, was run over and pinned by a black 2013 Chevrolet Camaro on Monday afternoon just moments after getting out of the car.
“From what we understand, they’ve known each other since February. As to the extent of that relationship and the history between the two individuals, we’re trying to determine that,” said Staff Sgt. Doug Andrus of the homicide unit.
“We are also trying to determine what happened just prior to the incident. That will assist us in developing a motive, and to offer a motive at this time would be speculative.”
Officers were called to the 4200 block of Macleod Trail South near a Holiday Inn just before 2 p.m. to respond to reports that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle.
Andrus said the Camaro had pulled into the parking lot and parked for a few minutes before Manion got out of the car.
She walked behind two vehicles that were parked next to the Camaro, then stepped onto the sidewalk on 42nd Avenue. As she crossed in front of the Camaro, she was struck and pinned under the car, Andrus said, adding the vehicle drove across the eastbound lanes to the westbound lanes.
Witnesses tried to free the woman, lifting the car with a hydraulic jack before paramedics arrived.
But when emergency crews arrived, they pronounced her dead at the scene.
Her personal items, including a comb, makeup accessories and a shoe were strewn across the roadway.
An autopsy completed Tuesday determined Manion died of blunt-force trauma.
The driver, who was frantic and yelling “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” at the scene, was arrested without incident.
Del Campo, of Calgary, remains in custody and is expected to appear in court Wednesday.
Andrus said the charge could be upgraded and additional charges could be laid.
There is nothing to indicate drugs or alcohol were involved, he said.
He thanked the witnesses who ran to the victim’s aid and those who provided information that has helped with the case, adding they acted “responsibly” under traumatic conditions.
Andrus would not comment on the criminal backgrounds of the suspect and the victim.
But according to a Medicine Hat Police Service news release, Del Campo and Manion, along with two other Calgarians, were charged in May in connection with a “large-scale investigation” into credit card fraud and identity theft.
Fraudulently obtained property worth $20,000 was recovered by officers when the foursome was arrested, said police, who laid a total of 105 charges.