Family of Deborah Geneau reacts to arrest made in fatal hit-and-run
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., (KBAK/KBFX) — Stephanie Heninger, 42, was arrested in connection to a fatal hit-and run that happened back in July of 2020.
The crash happened on Stockdale Highway near CSUB and killed 65-year-old Deborah Ann Geneau.
Geneau's family is happy that someone has finally been arrested. Dawn Elliot, Geneau's daughter, said, ""I am so happy that this day finally came. I was so happy. This was probably the best weekend I've had, just knowing that they found her."
Elliot also said that she was thankful they found the suspect because she was not going to give up until they found the person responsible for her mothers death. She said, "I promised our 13-year-old son when this first happened that I would never, ever give up trying to find her."
If Heninger is convicted, Elliot wants her to have the max sentence. She said, "whatever charges she is looking at, I hope she has to serve the full sentence of those charges. That is what I hope."
Matt Clark, a lawyer for the family of Deborah Geneau knows it is going to be a long road. "I think it does ultimately mean justice was served. there is a lot left to do. There hasn't been any convictions yet and the civil case is still going but at least we found this suspect that has really evaded arrest since July of last year," said Clark.
The family is glad someone has finally been arrested and is thankful to BPD for their work. Elliot said, ""I am so grateful and thankful for BPD because I feel like they really didn't give up on the case and they kept pushing and working on it and that's what helped find her."
We reached out to Sergeant Pair from BPD who said, "the arrest was a result of a tenacious investigator and the processing of forensic evidence."
Heninger is scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday afternoon.
