Posted on: May 29, 2024, 12:03h.
Last updated on: May 29, 2024, 12:03h.
A woman is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday on an open murder charge after she allegedly drove a car into her boyfriend in a jealous rage.
Julie Bush, 30, aimed the vehicle at her boyfriend on Friday after she saw another woman’s tampon in a garbage can, authorities said.
EMTs rushed the injured man to a local hospital. He was in critical condition on Friday. His injuries included brain bleeding and collapsed lungs, according to a news report. He passed away on Saturday.
Initially, while her boyfriend was still alive, Bush was charged with DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, domestic battery, attempted murder, and drug possession. The attempted murder charge was upgraded to open murder after his death.
Following an autopsy, the Clark County coroner’s office identified the victim as Richard Penardo, Jr., 51.
Bush on Fentanyl
Bush, who was high on fentanyl at the time, confronted Penardo over finding the tampon, police said. The dispute escalated.
Then, Penardo “retrieved a long, steel chain from the residence and went over to her vehicle,” according to a police report.
He then started to swing the chain around, breaking the windows of Bush’s vehicle,” police added. That led Bush to push down the car’s gas pedal. The vehicle struck Penardo.
Victim’s Body Smashed Into Wall
The impact led his body to become airborne. It then smashed into a brick wall, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS. She allegedly drove over his body.
She later was spotted “crying hysterically” standing over her boyfriend’s severely injured body, KLAS reported.
When police searched Bush’s car, they found bags of suspected methamphetamine (meth) and fentanyl.
Bush was apprehended by cops. Judge Daniel Westmeyer refused to set bail for Bush during a court proceeding on Saturday.
She didn’t appear before the judge because of an unspecified medical ailment, according to KLAS.
The identity of the woman — who used the tampon and placed it in the garbage — remains unknown.
Penardo and Bush had been in a relationship for at least a year, KLAS reported.
It turns out Penardo previously was convicted and was in prison on various charges. These include forgery, accessory to felony, conspiracy to commit murder, and insurance fraud, according to court records cited by KLAS.
The murder charge was linked to the death of Maria Marino in 2008. Her cause of death was ligature strangulation.
Her body was discarded on Mt. Charleston. Penardo and two women played a role in getting rid of the corpse.
Penardo also previously was sentenced to between three and 10 years for unemployment insurance fraud.