That’s Debi Hochstetler recalling for Seehafer News the still unsolved hit and run death of her son, Richard, on County Trunk CR, south of Manitowoc during the early morning hours of January 10th, 1999. Debi told us that special days bring back memories of her then 17-year old son, a junior at Lincoln High School.
Hochstetler explained she dropped Richard off at a buddy’s house in Manitowoc for a pizza & movie party the afternoon before the fatal accident. Early the next morning, she heard a knock at the door and saw police officers and the coroner, Deb Kakatsch.
The crash occurred just 200-yards from their driveway, but Debi said “she was (actually) blessed that night” because she didn’t have to witness it.”
Hochstetler was asked “if she finds it hard to believe this mystery has gone on so long?”
She said sheriff’s investigators pieced together evidence from the scene in an effort to find the suspect vehicle.
It is classified as a cold case by the Manitowoc County sheriff’s office until there are any new leads. She was also informed that the statute of limitations for vehicular homicide expired after 7-years, so unless someone comes forward and admits to being involved they won’t be prosecuted.
Debi Hochstetler said many people have joined social media discussion-groups seeking answers to Richard’s death, including Facebook and Reddit.
