Charges Dropped Against New Years Hit & Run Suspect

Longmont Teen Repeatedly Proclaimed Her Innocence 

Kendra Balentine speaks with CBS4 News

The Boulder County District Attorney's office has dropped charges against a Longmont teen originally accused of killing 16-year-old Jason Grimmer on New Years Eve.

A thorough examination, coupled with forensic analysis and information provided by the Colorado Department of Investigation, helped investigators and police to conclude that Kendra Balentine, 18, was not involved in the death in Grimmer.

“I know they want justice, but justice is not putting an innocent person in jail at all,” Balentine said. “I’m just trying to believe in God that the truth will come out, you know, so I’m just keeping faith."

Police originally indicated that Balentine had left a church meeting sometime during the evening of December 31, committed the hit and run that left Grimmer dead, then later returned to her church. This alleged sequence of events was vehemently disputed by Balentine's mother and pastor at her church, both of whom claimed that Balentine was at church for the entirety of the meeting and that the small size of the group would have made any person's exit very noticeable.

Investigators concluded that Balentine was involved in a separate hit and run involving a parked car on December 30. 

Jason Grimmer's grandfather Geoff Waltz has offered a reconciliatory perspective on the case and indicated that he feels Longmont police acted inappropriately and should offer an apology to Balentine.

"I feel no ill will and I apologize for the time of her life that's been wasted." Waltz indicated, "If it was not her I don't understand how someone could live with themselves knowing that they did that. It bothers the hell out of me"

Balentine admitted to being involved in an earlier accident involving a parked car on December 30. However, she questioned the investigation's integrity publicly in an interview with CBS4.

“I know they want justice, but justice is not putting an innocent person in jail at all,” Balentine said. “I’m just trying to believe in God that the truth will come out, you know, so I’m just keeping faith.”

Investigators and police continue to search for the suspect involved in Grimmer's death. If anyone has any information that may assist the resolution of the case, please contact detective Stacey Graham at (303) 774- 4392.

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Source: Deadly Hit And Run Charges Dropped Against Teen Driver