(New Haven, CT) – New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. today announced that a jury in New Haven Superior Court on September, 29, 2026, found Lennell Bethea, age 57, of New Haven, guilty of the crime of Evading Responsibility in the Operation of a Motor Vehicle, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-224 (a). The Honorable Maureen M. Keegan presided over the jury trial.
According to evidence introduced at trial, Bethea was operating his vehicle on Sherman Parkway near the intersection of Harding Place on February 1, 2023 in New Haven when he fatally struck Bryan Ramirez-Gutierrez, age 17, of New Haven. Bethea immediately fled the scene and made no attempt to report the accident to local authorities. He was later identified as the driver following an investigation conducted by members of the New Haven Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team.
The case was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney David Nielsen and Assistant State’s Attorney Meryl Gersz, with the assistance of Investigator Dietrich Hernandez.
The New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office would like to extend its gratitude to the state Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection’s Division of Scientific Services and Special Agent David Carney of the New Haven Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with the investigation.
“While we know nothing can be done to take away the pain felt by the loved ones of Bryan Ramirez- Gutierrez, we hope this verdict helps to bring them some closure,” State’s Attorney Doyle said.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 30, 2026, in New Haven Superior Court.