Judge orders extradition of woman in hit-and-run case
Woman suspected of killing MSU student fled to Thailand
Extradition proceedings are underway for the woman accused of killing Michigan State University student Benjamin Kable in a hit-and-run in Oakland Township who then fled to Thailand and has since been returned to the United States.
Court records show that on
Feb. 27, San Franciscoarea U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler signed off on the transportation of 57-year-old Tubtim “Sue” Howson, of Oakland Township, Michigan. On March
3, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said efforts continue to get her back to Michigan.
Howson faces a federal charge for allegedly fleeing to avoid prosecution and a state charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Investigators believe Howson
was driving the car that struck Kable, 22, of Shelby Township, while he was standing or walking along the roadway shortly before 6 a.m. Jan. 1. Howson fled the scene after the crash, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Two days later, she allegedly bought a one-way ticket to Thailand.
According to court documents, a friend of Howson’s reportedly told authorities that Howson confided in her that she thought she might have killed someone while driving to work. When encouraged to turn herself in, she said “no cops.”
A dual citizen of the U.S. and Thailand, Howson left Michigan on Jan. 3 and was tracked to Bangkok, Thailand. She was picked up by authorities in Thailand and was taken into custody when her return flight landed in the United States, the sheriff’s office said.
Each charge Howson faces is punishable by up to five years in prison.