HIT AND RUN DRIVER WHO STRUCK 11-YEAR-OLD INDICTED

Tory Fairchild Charged with Felony Murder in Death of Terriona Ison

The Fulton County grand jury has returned today an 8 count indictment charging Tory Fairchild with two counts of felony murder and one count each of vehicular homicide in the first degree, theft by taking (auto), theft by receiving stolen property (auto), hit and run, failure to exercise due care to a pedestrian and giving false information to a law enforcement officer. The charges stem from the January 14, 2007 incident in which 11-year-old Terriona Ison of Atlanta was killed by a hit and run driver.

Ison was crossing the street in front of her home near Hightower Road and West Avenue in Atlanta when—according to the police—someone driving a 2003 Chevrolet Impala struck the little girl, killing her instantly. The driver, who never stopped, was traveling at 67 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. The car had been stolen in Union City. It was abandoned on North Grand Avenue with damage to its left front quarter about 2-and-a-half miles from the scene of the collision.

Fairchild is charged with giving the false name of “Jake Tate” to the police officers who arrested him following tips from citizens. The 23-year-old Atlanta resident is currently in the Fulton County Jail awaiting arraignment on these charges. Once the case has been assigned to a Superior Court judge, it will be placed on the plea and arraignment calendar.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us