READ January 7, 2009 UPDATE AT BOTTOM!

It’s been four months since Heather Whalley and husband Seth, both members of the Lord’s Church, were hit by a van driven by Aaron Rimar. It’s been four months and still no charges against Mr. Rimar!

“The operator of the van has a horrendous driving record, 21 driving citations including a speeding conviction on March 14, less than a month before the fatal accident. He has multiple convictions for careless driving and speeding in addition to driving with a suspended license, without headlights, running a red light and driving with an open container in the vehicle. Critics question why he was still licensed to drive.”¹

Heather died from the impact and Seth is still recovering. Pray for them and pray for justice before someone else suffers.

Mrs. Kell, who lost her daughter, said the following: “Anger is not beneficial to myself or family,” she said. “It’s not going to bring her back. The Lord will deal with this situation when there’s time.”

UPDATE: Sept 17, 2008
“St. Pete Beach police have not publicly given any cause for the accident other than Rimar obviously was not in control of his vehicle. Chief David Romine refuses to release a copy of the accident report, saying that the case is under investigation by the Pinellas-Pasco state attorney’s office of Bernie McCabe. Romine claims that only McCabe can release the report.” Accessed: here

UPDATE: Sept 19, 2008

COMMENTARY
By June Maxam
ST. PETE BEACH, FLA—Will the mayor of St. Pete Beach ask Florida Governor Charlie Crist to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the fatal crash of April 10 in which the mother of three was fatally injured as she and her husband walked on a sidewalk along Blind Pass Road?

At a meeting of the St. Pete Beach Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 10, St. Pete Beach resident Deborah Edney questioned the commissioners and Mayor Michael Finnerty why no charges had been brought against Aaron Rimar, the operator of the van which struck and killed Heather Whalley and seriously injured her husband Seth.

Finnerty told Edney, commissioners and the audience that he had spoken with St. Pete Beach police chief David Romine about the accident and that Romine had told him he had wanted to file charges against Rimar but was precluded from doing so by the Pinellas-Pasco state attorney’s office of Bernie McCabe. Accessed here

I have been watching this story to see what would be done. For now, there has been no justice for Heather and the Whalley family.

UPDATE: Oct. 20, 2008Still no charges against Aaron Rimar and despite requests, the State Attorney’s office and Police Chief of St. Pete Beach are not releasing records. No toxicology reports have been made public. Read more…

UPDATE: Oct. 30, 2008The Mayor is seeking for the Governor of the State of Florida to appoint a special prosecutor to the Whalley case. Thanks so much to June Maxam of the North Country Gazette (New York!) for keeping this story alive. I can’t find barely a word on this story from the Florida papers. Read the latest here.

UPDATE: Nov. 15, 2008 The following is from the online version of the St. Petersburg Times. The exposure is welcome.

What a sad and tragic story of Heather Whalley’s death when she and her husband, Seth, were slammed by Aaron Rimar’s van. The accident may not have been considered a crime because all four drugs that Rimar had in his system were considered “at or below therapeutic levels.” But add them all together and the sum is equal to what should be considered involuntary manslaughter.Four potent drugs for a “shoulder injury” and not being under the care of a doctor? Just where did he get this concoction of meds?….

Thanks to the Tampabay.com and thanks especially to June Maxam at North Country Gazette for not letting this store go away. Read the rest of the Tampabay.com story here.

UPDATE: Dec. 1, 2008 Witnesses saw Aaron Rimar speeding past them and talking on cell phone just moments before the crash. The witnesses were never called in for an interview for the investigation. Read more

UPDATE: Dec. 27, 2008 Excerpt: “Most recently, NCG has written numerous articles on the suspicious drowning death of Joey Turner near St. Pete Beach, Fla., and the death of Jimmy Spicer of Palm Harbor, Fla., both victims of the sons of prominent, influential and politically connected fathers who were never criminally charged.

And then there’s the case of Aaron Rimar, the son of another wealthy Florida businessman in the Sixth Judicial Circuit where Bernie McCabe is the state attorney. Rimar, under the influence of four controlled substances for which he did not have a legal prescription, lost control of his vehicle and mowed down a young couple as they walked on a sidewalk, killing Heather Whalley and seriously injuring her husband. Once again, which seems to have become the norm in Pinellas County, no criminal charges were lodged.” Read more….

UPDATE: Jan. 7, 2009 Heather Whalley’s husband is angry that Aaron Rimar received community service and a $500 fine for killing his wife, Heather Whalley, last April 2008. He plans to file a civil suit, which appears to be his only recourse for justice. Remember that Aaron Rimar was under the influence of four prescription drugs, but they were not prescribed to him. And Aaron Rimar, according to the only eyewitness, drove for about 50 feet on the sidewalk, never slowing down, before hitting the Whalleys. And it may be noteworthy that Aaron Rimar has had so many traffic violations that some wonder why he has a driver’s license. And remember that he is the son of a prominent businessman in the area. Read the latest Fox 13 story HERE.
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1.Accessed here
2.More here
3.Original story

Categories: Aaron Rimar, injustice, justice