A 33-year-old man who has been deported from the United States three times is behind bars after a violent crash killed a 6-year-old girl. The suspect, Jaime Santiago Corona, was driving a 2023 Dodge Ram pickup truck on Warren Jones Road when he blew through a stop sign and slammed into another vehicle.
The crash occurred on Friday, July 3, and resulted in the death of Calli Toller, who was a passenger in the other vehicle. Her mother and 4-year-old brother were also seriously injured and taken to ECU Health Medical Center. Corona was arrested later that afternoon and faces charges including misdemeanor death by vehicle and driving while license revoked.
Court records indicate that Corona has no valid operator's license and is considered a flight risk due to his immigration history. A magistrate ordered him held in the Pitt County Detention Center on a secured bond of over $100,000. The suspect's immigration status is unclear, with documents suggesting it cannot be determined if he is a U.S. citizen.
This incident highlights concerns about the consequences of repeated deportations and releases of individuals who go on to commit serious crimes. Corona has been deported three times previously, and his case is not an isolated one. There have been numerous instances of previously deported individuals being charged with serious crimes, including murder, after being released back into the community.
In recent cases, previously deported individuals have been charged with violent crimes, including triple murder in California and killing a mother and son in Colorado. These incidents have raised questions about the effectiveness of the current system and the leniency with which some individuals are treated.
The Pitt County Detention Center has previously dealt with cases involving repeat offenders, including a home invasion in February. In that case, ICE lodged detainers against two suspects who were accused of serious crimes. Now, ICE is stepping in with a detainer after Corona's arrest, highlighting the ongoing concerns about public safety and immigration policy.
