Worcester Pair Indicted In Route 9 Pedestrian's Death

SHREWSBURY, MA — Two Worcester residents have been indicted on charges connected to the October death of a Shrewsbury woman who was crossing Route 9 on her way home from work.

According to the Worcester County District Attorney, Jerry Santiago Jr., 25, of Worcester, hit Ghufran Mutar, 20, of Shrewsbury, as she was crossing the highway near 10 p.m. on Oct. 30 leaving work at a CVS. Mutar died, and Santiago kept on driving.

Westborough police later found Santiago's car with visible damage. He was arraigned in Westborough District Court in November, but last week's indictment means the case will be moved to Worcester County Superior Court. Santiago has been charged with motor vehicle homicide, motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash resulting in death, driving as to endanger and driving a motor vehicle without a license.

Santiago's passenger, Justina Riopelle, 22, was charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Santiago is being held on $50,000 bail, and will be arraigned in superior court at a later date.