MARYSVILLE — Nicole Cheek was left to die on the side of a road not far from her home.
The Marysville grandmother likely never saw the vehicle that plowed into her — or the person behind the wheel.
Investigators believe Kevin Wayne Brewer was driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee that killed Cheek, 58. They also believe Brewer never stopped or called for help.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Ed Stemler earlier this week charged Brewer, 42, with hit-and-run fatality accident, a felony.
Cheek was struck from behind about 5:15 a.m. April 2, 2008. She was walking northbound along the shoulder of 34th Avenue NE, according to court documents. The road parallels southbound I-5 just north of Marysville.
Another driver on the freeway spotted Cheek’s body about 90 minutes later and called 911. An investigator with the medical examiner’s office found broken vehicle pieces under Cheek’s shirt. Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives were able to determine that the broken parts likely came from a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Stemler wrote.
Two days after the accident Brewer and his attorney agreed to meet with detectives. He declined to make a statement but told investigators the Jeep belonged to a friend and led them to an Everett apartment where the Jeep was parked.
Police interviewed the Jeep’s owner who told police he borrowed Brewer’s pickup truck to move and that Brewer had used his vehicle. The day after the accident Brewer allegedly told the man he’d hit a mailbox on his way home and damaged the Jeep, Stemler wrote. The next day they both heard television news reports that police were searching for a Jeep Grand Cherokee that struck and killed a woman, according to court records.
Brewer told the man he may have hit the woman, Stemler wrote.
The Stanwood man allegedly told his ex-wife and daughter about the collision, according to court documents. He told them he woke up after hitting something, possibly a mailbox, Stemler wrote. He explained that he may have fallen asleep because of his sleep apnea, the deputy prosecutor wrote.
Brewer was driving with a suspended license at the time of the collision, according to court documents. He also has drug, theft and forgery convictions, Stemler wrote.
Cheek is survived by her husband, children and grandchildren.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
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