Iowa man found guilty of killing 4-year-old child while street racing

DES MOINES, Iowa (TCD) — A jury convicted a 35-year-old man this week of killing a 4-year-old boy during a street race last year when his car crashed.

The Polk County Attorney’s Office announced Thursday, June 1, that Robert Miller III was found guilty of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, vehicular homicide by reckless driving, and vehicular homicide by street racing. The charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated carries a sentence of up to 25 years.

According to the Attorney’s Office, on Dec. 13, 2022, at approximately 6 p.m., Des Moines Police officers responded to Fleur Drive near Gray’s Lake. Miller was reportedly drag-racing another vehicle and driving up to 114 mph when he crossed the street median and hit Marya De Catalan’s car. Catalan’s son, Thiago, and her nephew, Marcos Faguada, were inside the car at the time of the crash.

They were all transported to the hospital, where Faguada later died from his injuries.

Miller was initially booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of drag-racing, reckless driving, fail to maintain control, speeding, vehicular homicide by street racing, vehicular homicide by reckless driving, and serious injury by vehicle. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 14.

According to the Attorney’s Office, Miller’s co-defendant, Keith Jones, faces charges of vehicular homicide as well, and his trial is scheduled to begin June 26.

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