DESOTO, Kan. -- A DeSoto High School senior's boyfriend was charged with murder when the 17-year-old girl died from her injuries after falling off a moving SUV on Ottawa Street in DeSoto.
Griselda Del Real died after she was run over Friday night by an SUV a block from her house on West 83rd and Ottawa streets. Police said the person behind the wheel was 19-year-old Johnny Landa, her boyfriend.
Landa was taken into custody. On Tuesday, charges were upgraded to reckless murder in the second degree and obstruction of legal process. He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon.
"Mr. Landa demonstrated a reckless indifference, extreme indifference, to the value of human life," said Johnson County Attorney General Phill Kline.
Family members told KCTV5's Matt Stewart that Landa had another girl in his car and in a jealous rage, Del Real jumped on the SUV to stop him. He allegedly told them he heard her fall off, but had no idea she was seriously hurt, which is why he took off from the scene.
The relationship between Landa and Del Real was apparently a rocky one. "They got in fights and stuff, but they really loved each other," said Adolfo Sanchez, Del Real’s friend and Landa’s cousin.
"Sometimes they argued," said Del Real’s friend, Lesvia Resendiz, "but then they’d get back together again."
In 2005, Landa was found guilty and served several months in prison for fleeing the scene of an injury accident. In 2006, he was charged with three counts of assault, but those charges were dropped by the prosecutor.
More than 100 friends and family gathered in a vigil for the teen on Monday night. They wore T-shirts with her picture on the back as they lit candles in remembrance of Del Real.
At Del Real's school, counselors and social workers were made available to students Tuesday. About 20 students used the services, district spokesman Alvie Cater said.
The school also planned a fund drive to help the family pay for the funeral, Cater said.
Del Real's wish was to donate her organs. Seven people will benefit from her donation, her family said.
Landa was being held on a $500,000 bond.
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