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WEST VALLEY CITY — A woman previously convicted in a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a 2-year-old boy is now accused of helping a murder suspect try to avoid capture.
Kimberly Samantha Munoz, 31, of West Valley City, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
On Sept. 15, Brian Torres-Hernandes, 21, was shot and killed near 2800 West and 2700 South. Esteban Roberto Galvez, 18, was charged on Sept. 21 with murder, six counts of illegal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.
Galvez's former girlfriend had just arrived home from work with Torres-Hernandes, her cousin, when Galvez came running toward them, pointed his gun at the woman, and then shot Torres-Hernandes multiple times, according to charging documents.
Munoz claims she had contacted Galvez that day to purchase drugs and after they met up, he "disclosed the details of the murder," the charges state, adding that she then drove him to another house, "explaining that she did not want him to have to deal with the consequences of the murder."
Investigators say Munoz remained in constant contact with Galvez up until her arrest.
In 2013, Munoz was arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash.
Angela Barnett was walking home from the store with her two young children. She was pushing 2-year-old Gavyn Barnett in a stroller across 5600 West near 4005 South — an area that was not well lit — when a car hit the stroller. The driver, Munoz, stopped for a moment but then continued driving, according to police.
Munoz pleaded guilty to causing an accident involving property damage, a third-degree felony, in 2014. She was sentenced to 88 days in jail and was given credit for all but 30 days for the time she had already served, followed by three years of probation.
