A Harleysville man will face a trial in connection with the death of 62-year-old Susan Rein, who was struck by a vehicle and killed in February while taking a morning walk near her home in Skippack Township.
Court records show that 27-year-old Jesse Neou waived his preliminary hearing in front of District Judge Albert Augustine, and is currently awaiting formal arraignment at the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, which is scheduled for Aug. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Neou has been charged in April with one felony count of accidents involving death or personal injury, along with summary counts of failure to stop and render aid, failure to notify police of an accident involving injury or death and providing false information, in connection with Rein’s death.
He’s currently free on $50,000 unsecured bail.
Montgomery County dispatchers were contacted at 6:43 a.m. on Feb 21 by a friend of Rein’s, who said she was talking to her on the phone when she heard Rein loudly gasp and the line cutoff. The friend told dispatch that Rein lived in the area of the 2100 block of Eastport Way in Skippack Township.
Approximately 12 minutes later, county dispatch received a call from another person stating they had discovered a female lying in the parking lot along the 3900 block of Ashland Drive, which is near Rein’s residence. The caller stated the female was bleeding and appeared to be deceased. Police arrived a short time later and confirmed the victim was dead, lying face-down in a pool of blood with damage to her clothing — consistent with being dragged.
Police said the victim suffered multiple injuries including head trauma and a broken jaw, and they found clothing fibers stuck to the road, according to charging documents.
While on scene, police said a witness came forward and stated they saw Neou walking from the direction of the building and remote starting his truck around 6:30 a.m. Investigators then viewed surveillance footage, which showed Neou’s white pickup truck in the parking lot and Rein on the walking trail at 6:32 p.m., before both entered the camera’s blind spot, the report states.
Coming out of the blind spot, Neou’s truck emerges with its front end raising and lowering, which police said was consistent with running over a person. He is then seen reversing and exiting the parking lot, with Rein’s body lying on the ground, according to the complaint.
Investigators made contact with Neou at his place of employment in Quakertown at 11 a.m., at which point they said they observed human hairs and clothing fibers in the undercarriage of his truck. A search warrant was later executed on the truck, which revealed more human hairs and clothing fibers on the passenger side tires and running board, police said.
In speaking to police, Neou said that he was running late, and he remote started his vehicle before having to run back into his house. He told investigators that he pulled out, went to work, and said he did not hit anything in the parking lot, according to the complaint.
Charges were filed against Neou on April 20, and he was taken into custody the following day.
Court records show the case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Samantha Arena. Neou is being represented by defense attorney Francis Genovese, according to a report by Carl Hessler at the Pottstown Mercury.
If convicted on the felony count of accidents involving death or personal injury, Neou would face a mandatory minimum three-year prison sentence.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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