Jan 9, 2008 10:44 pm US/Central
Suburban Man Dies After Being Dragged By Car
Police Investigating If Act Was Intentional On Driver's Part
ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. (CBS) ―
The investigation continues into the bizarre dragging death of a suburban man Tuesday night in Round Lake Beach. Authorities are now looking into the possibility the driver intended to hit the man.
As CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports, Round Lake Beach police won't give too many details about their investigation except to say they expect charges, of some sort, soon.
But witnesses say whatever the driver's intention, they believe they know who did it.
Friends of 29-year-old Brian Boatright brought a cross the mark the spot where his life ended Tuesday, after being dragged more than half a mile under a car.
"We received a phone call about six o'clock, numerous phone calls, frantic, indicating that there was a person being drug underneath a vehicle," said Deputy Chief Richard Chiarello of the Round Lake Beach Police Dept.
Chiarello says Boatright was struck in a strip mall parking lot near Rollins and Cedar Lake Road. Witnesses say the female driver dragged him through the lot before turning onto the street. His body became dislodged about a hundred yards from his back door.
"He was [in] pretty bad shape," said the victim's neighbor, Samantha Hill. "It was so cold, it was raining. I just feel bad for the guy. Didn't deserve to go that way."
Police now have the car and have been talking to the driver, trying to determine if this was accidental or intentional.
"We believe there was a relationship between the driver and the victim," Chiarello said.
But neighbors say Boatright was in a turbulent relationship, adding police towed his girlfriend's car from the scene and took her away -- hysterical -- in a squad car.
"I guess there was evidence on her car that looked suspicious, that was on his body that looked suspicious as well," Hill said.
Several agencies are involved in this investigation and talking to witnesses.
Police want anyone who may have seen anything Tuesday night to give them a call.
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