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Chilling 911 call reveals alleged cover-up in girl’s death

Posted at 3:24 PM, Mar 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-03 15:24:37-05

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- A 911 call obtained by WPIX reveals how prosecutors say a New Jersey man accused in the hit-and-run death of 7-year-old tried to cover it up.

Fabian Rodriguez, the alleged driver, and his girlfriend Joanna Rosas-Alvarez were charged Wednesday in connection with the case.

Shayla Pichardo was walking to school with her mother Monday morning when they were hit by a black Chevy Tahoe,according to WPIX.  Pichardo died from her injuries, and her mother was taken to the hospital with a non-life threatening injury to her knee.

Rodriguez was reportedly the only one in the vehicle at the time of the crash but Rosas-Alvarez allegedly helped with the cover-up.

Detectives say the cover-up is evident in the 911 call Rodriguez made.

RODRIGUEZ:  Somebody steal the, my wife's car, my wife's car outside? 

DISPATCHER:  They stole the car? Did they just take it?

RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, she's calling like, like one hour ago but the problem is she no speak English.

Police say Rodriguez claimed that the car was stolen near a parking lot.

DISPATCHER:  Where was the car taken from? 

RODRIGUEZ:  I think outside the parking lot.

DISPATCHER:  Ok, So it was taken from the parking lot there?

RODRIGUEZ:  Yes.

DISPATCHER:  But you guys didn't report it when it was taken? 

RODRIGUEZ:  No, no, the problem is she call it like before, but I don't know, maybe I, before I call police I want to make sure maybe somebody take it.

The Chevy Tahoe was eventually found in Newark.  WPIX reports that the vehicle was washed and police tracked it via OnStar GPS.

Rodriguez, 33, was held on $250,000 bail.