2 Caretakers Accused In Death Of Devereux Resident

CLERMONT, NY — Police released the name of the 14-year-old killed when a car struck him on a Columbia County highway and also accused two caretakers of endangering his welfare and lying to cover it up.

The New York State Police said Romelo Cruze, 14, died after being hit by a vehicle while walking on Route 9 in Clermont Sept. 23.

While investigating the fatal crash, police said officials of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in Red Hook reported Cruze missing. He was a resident of the facility.

Two staff members responsible for the teen provided business records and written statement to investigators claiming Cruze was in good condition at the facility at 5:30 a.m. Sept. 23, police said.

The incident, however, happened around 4:30 a.m. about 4.5 miles north of the facility, according to law enforcement.

Police arrested Churchill Orodi, 39, and Beryl Orech, 36, both of Poughkeepsie, on Tuesday.

They were charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and first-degree falsifying business records, both felonies, and making a punishable false written statement, a misdemeanor.

Orodi and Orech were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Red Hook Court Oct. 26.