Two charged in connection to 2008 fatal hit and run near Alma, Ont.

Police have laid charges in the death of Lucas Shortreed 14 years after the 18-year-old was killed in a hit and run near Alma, Ont.

On Oct. 10, 2008, Shortreed was walking home from a party around midnight on Wellington Road 17 when he was struck and killed by a vehicle.

The driver did not remain at the scene.

FAR-REACHING INVESTIGATION

From the outset, police knew the make and model of the vehicle they were looking for.

“Some of the evidence that was left behind at the scene, it was examined, and investigators were able to determine it was a 1995 to 1997 white Dodge Neon,” said Const. Jacob Unger with Wellington County OPP.

The search for the car was exhaustive, police said.

“Over the next 14 years, we received over 100 tips from the public that detectives followed up on,” Unger said. “They examined several hundred vehicles trying to determine and locate the suspect vehicle and determine who his driver was.”

In 2008, police even conducted a re-enactment in an effort to jog memories. In a statement at the time, the family pleaded with the culprit to turn themselves in before they were caught.

“Turn yourself in. You have done enough to your family and mine… you will be caught one way or another,” Shortreed’s family said.

Police also issued a strong message.

“This will haunt you for the rest of your life. You need to know that we will not give up on our quest to find the person responsible for this death,” OPP said in 2008.

Those words rung hollow – until now.

BREAKTHROUGH IN THE CASE

On Tuesday around noon, Wellington County OPP announced earlier that day officers executed a search warrant at a Mapleton Township address. Two people were charged, and a vehicle was recovered from the property.

David Alexander Halliburton, 55, of Arthur was charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving bodily harm and obstructing justice.

Anastasia Marie Halliburton, 53, also of Arthur, was charged with accessory after the fact and obstructing justice.

“The OPP never considers a case to be a cold case,” said Unger. “An investigation is active until it is solved.”

Police said the investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police.