As we've reported, Medina was a valet at the Rockstar Lounge. Just shy of midnight on January 22, he was on the job when he was struck and killed by a white pickup driven by Vera-Nolasco. Not that this collision registered with her at the time. According to her arrest affidavit, she thought she'd hit something on Lincoln, the street where Medina died, since her side mirror was dangling. But she told one person she didn't realize the something in question was a human being until seeing news reports about the hit-and-run featuring images of a white pickup.
Once it became clear she was in deep trouble, Vera-Nolasco turned to Eliu Montes-Garcia to help her hide the vehicle in Commerce City. Additional helpers included Guadalupe Bastida, her half brother, who reportedly threw out a white plastic bag containing the pickup's registration and other documents showing that the undocumented Vera-Nolasco had been living in the Denver area. And Yolanda Bastida-Nolasco later admitted to driving Vera-Nolasco to Denver International Airport, buying a ticket to Mexico City on her Visa card, and giving Vera-Nolasco her ID.
In the end, Vera-Nolasco only got as far as the Phoenix, Arizona airport before being taken into custody -- and her three assistants, all of whom were also in the U.S. illegally, were charged as well.
The quartet subsequently pleaded guilty to an assortment of crimes. Bastida and Bastida-Nolasco were sentenced to 545 and 365 days in jail, respectively, for aiding Vera-Nolasco's escape, while Montes-Garcia received a three-year jolt, with a sentence reconsideration after 120 days, on one accessory-to-crime count. That means Vera-Nolasco received the heaviest sentence by far -- a decision supported by Medina's family, whose members are still reeling from his tragic and unnecessary death.
Look below to see mug shots of the four suspects in the case, followed by the aforementioned arrest affidavit and probable cause statements.
Vera-Nolasco Arrest Affidavit:
Montes-Garcia Probable Cause Statement:
Bastida Probable Cause Statement:
Bastida-Nolasco Probable Cause Statement:
More from our Colorado Crimes archive: "Brandon Mondragon charged in hit-and-run that injured Tim Albo, Heather Kornman."
