TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

2 Years After Fatal Hit-And-Run, Tampa Police Have New Lead

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 27, 2009

Related Links

• Memorial Scheduled For Sat.

Christine Hodill

TAMPA - Two years after a South Tampa pedestrian's death in a hit-and-run, police say they have a new lead and are encouraged they might be able to solve the case.

On Feb. 28, 2007, Christine Hodill was walking home from MacDinton's Irish Pub & Restaurant, where she had been socializing with friends after a kickball game. A motorist struck Hodill, 28, as she crossed West Cleveland Street at Moody Avenue, and then drove away.

The motorist has never been caught, even though Hodill's family rented billboard space near the scene advertising a $5,000 reward for information about the case.

The billboard is gone, but the reward is still being offered.

Virginia Cornelius learned about the new lead in her daughter's death during a brief interview this week with The Tampa Tribune.

"That's good news," she said.

Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said detectives are working hard to make an arrest.

"Hitting someone and killing them and driving off, that's a pretty horrendous crime, and detectives are very passionate about finding people who do these kinds of things," Davis said.

The vehicle is described as a four-door Nissan Altima, Honda or Toyota Camry with dark green or black metallic paint, dark windows and a large spoiler. It was missing its driver-side mirror.

Hodill was a researcher and junior recruiter at Ajilon Professional Staffing in Tampa.

She worked with the World Adult Kickball Association and helped organize biweekly kickball games. She played for "The Tacos" on Thursday nights and liked to be the first one to kick the ball and the first to field first base, friends said.

There will be a remembrance event in honor of Hodill from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at MacDinton's, 405 S. Howard Ave.

Her brother and friends will gather at the pub "to remember her and raise awareness of her story in hopes of convincing people to come forward with any information they may have to help police in bringing her case to a close," according to MacDinton's Web site.

Hodill graduated from Niceville Senior High School in 1997 and from the University of Florida in 2001 with a sociology degree.

Her funeral was held in Niceville, where her family still lives. They visit the cemetery every day, her stepfather said last month.

Steven Cornelius hopes one day there will be closure in his stepdaughter's death.

"I think it's just important for somebody to take responsibility for not stopping," he said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT