DRIVER CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR KILLING MOTHER OF 3 NEAR COWLES MOUNTAIN

East County News Service

August 21, 2015 (San Diego) – A suspected drunk driver who ran a light at Golfcrest and Navajo road struck and killed Rocia De Anda Leamon, a 38-year-old mother of three teenage sons.  The young mother was crossing the street to go walking on Cowles Mountain as she did daily, when she was hit and thrown 57 feet, landing face down on the pavement, the Union-Tribune reports.

The driver, 38-year-old Joshua Taylor, was arrested and charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol. His blood alcohol was measured at 0.23 percent, nearly three times the legal limit. 

Taylor has pled not guilty. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Leamon was discovered missing after she failed to come home from her walk and her family found dinner burning in the oven. Her husband, Victor Leamon, went looking for her and saw the emergency vehicles at the scene of the tragedy, according to the Union-Tribune.

A memorial fund for the family has been set up on GoFundMe.