Suspect Was Using Victim’s Cell-phone
SALINAS—The family of 24-year-old Yesenia Escorcia Romero of Salinas caught up with her boyfriend of one month, 21-year-old Anthony Seven Bouchereau from Texas, at a local truck stop in southeast Salinas. They placed him under citizen’s arrest and held him there until police arrived. You see, Bouchereau was not just her new boyfriend, but also the lead suspect in her death that had occurred on Sunday, July 5.
On that Sunday evening, police responded to the area of East Market Street and North Madeira Avenue on a report of a traffic accident that had just occurred. When police arrived they found a Lincoln Town car and a Toyota minivan in the intersection, both with major damage. The driver of the Lincoln was not found at the scene; he had left his passenger behind with severe injuries.
The passenger, Yesenia Romero, was taken to the hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. Police theorized that Bouchereau was driving the Lincoln down North Madeira Avenue at a high rate of speed when it came in contact with the Toyota van, before coming to a stop.
Police and the family of Romero were looking for Bouchereau when the family started receiving messages from Yesencia’s cell-phone. The family quickly realized that it was Bouchereau trying to express his condolences.
The family convinced him to meet so they can get her cellphone back. They met at local truck stop, and the family held him there until the police arrived. In addition to returning the phone, he was reportedly trying to raise money to leave town. A video of the captured suspect being held by family members was posted on the “Neighborhood Watch Help In Salinas” Facebook page.
After questioning him, police booked him into the Monterey County Jail on vehicular manslaughter and hit and run charges.
