A 24-year-old driver admitted guilt on Wednesday at the Old Bailey for causing the death of Marie Theobald, 48, and her two dogs in a crash that occurred just days before Christmas.
Theobald was walking her pets Riley and Honey on Manford Way in Chigwell, Essex, when a white Seat Leon travelling at 61 mph in a 30-mph zone struck her at around 5 pm on 22 December 2023.
She was pronounced dead at the scene along with the two dogs. The driver, Dantay Roche, 24, entered pleas to causing death by dangerous driving, criminal damage and causing death while driving an uninsured vehicle.
Roche was identified as the car's owner after the vehicle, later found abandoned in a nearby cul-de-sac with substantial damage, was linked to him. He surrendered to Ilford police the following day and was released on bail.
CCTV shows Roche exiting the car, inspecting the damage and then driving away. He was charged on 29 July this year with the offences relating to the deaths of Marie and her dogs.
Family members described Marie as a loving mother, daughter, sister, niece and friend, adding that Riley and Honey were "much loved members of the family" and that she adored them.
Detective Inspector Mark Braithwaite, who led the investigation, said the incident was "awful" and occurred "in the most tragic circumstances just days before Christmas". He noted the driver never explained his speed and called the departure from the scene "cowardly". Braithwaite said forensic evidence confirmed Roche was travelling at 61 mph in a 30-mph zone and placed him in the area at the time of the collision. Roche will be sentenced on 25 January 2025.
