Statute of Limitations Let This Man Walk Away Free

Posted on September 14th, 2013

The 1968 hit-and-run that killed four-year-old Carolee Sadie Ashby has remained a mystery for 45 years. Now, with the help of Facebook, authorities now know who the driver was that killed Carolee on Halloween night decades ago.

Fulton Police Department has identified Douglas Parkhurst, 62, as the driver that failed to stop after striking the child. Parkhurst, who had been questioned at the time, won’t be charged because the statute of limitations has passed.

The case ran cold almost a decade ago, but a local history Facebook page brought forth new information. Details of the case were posted by a retired police officer and a former resident of Fulton came forward. The unidentified woman said she was asked by a member of the Parkhurst family to say she was with Parkhurst the night of the accident. She refused because she assumed it was connected to Carolee’s accident.

After questioning Parkhurst again, Parkhurst admitted he had been drinking the night of the accident when he hit something. He assumed it was an animal, but now understood it was Carolee.

The Statute of Limitations for wrongful death in Kansas generally runs out two years from the date of the event which brought about the death.

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