Charleston Judge Denies Prevention of DNA Collection from Suspected Hit-and-Run Perpetrator
In Charleston, South Carolina, a request barring law enforcement authorities from gathering the DNA of a suspect involved in a lethal hit-and-run incident has been denied by a local judge. The fatal accident resulted in the untimely deaths of two young women—one of them a College of Charleston senior.
Request Denied
The ruling came from a Charleston County judge who was presented with the request by lawyer Chris Adams. The request intended to inhibit the collection of DNA from Max Gentilin, the second person implicated in the deadly incident. According to the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the judge rejected the request put forth by Adams.
The Morrison Drive Hit-and-Run Incident
Law enforcement officials maintain that the accident occurred on a Sunday morning in April on Morrison Drive. Two 20-year-old women, Lizzy Zito and Ariana Gamber, fell victim to the fatal hit-and-run incident. Investigators say that an initial impact was made by a pickup truck driven by Seth Carlson, 32. Allegedly, Carlson hit the women as they walked along the pedestrian and bike lane on Morrison Drive, fleeing the scene around 1:12 a.m.
Later, Carlson was involved in an accident where his vehicle landed in a ditch off Sam Rittenburg Boulevard. Investigators were able to track his movements and connect the incidents. Less than half an hour after the first crash, Max Gentilin, 25, was purportedly shown in surveillance footage hitting the women with his car after running over the curb on Morrison Drive, around 1:43 a.m.
The two victims were found by residents around 8:30 a.m. and were pronounced dead at the scene by the police.
Investigation and Arrests
Gentilin turned himself in to the police on April 30th and is now facing two counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. After being granted bond, he has been out of custody.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Carlson on May 6th. He has been charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and two counts of reckless vehicular homicide. After he was granted bond, Carlson was released from Al Cannon Detention Center.
With the judge’s recent decision, law enforcement now has the necessary permission to proceed with the collection of DNA from Gentilin to further the investigation and, if possible, link him conclusively to the tragic incident.
No further information is available at this time. Updates will follow as the investigation into this tragic incident continues.
