DUI Hit-and-Run Victim Dies, Suspect Charged with Murder

Mallory Rae Dies, the 27-year-old victim of a DUI hit-and-run collision last Friday in downtown Santa Barbara, was declared dead at Cottage Hospital at 3:15 p.m. today, authorities said. The man charged with hitting her then driving away, 32-year-old Raymond Morua, has been charged with murder, vehicular manslaughter, and fleeing the scene of a crime. Dies suffered severe head trauma in the accident, and was on life support for much of her care.

Morua was re-booked in County Jail on the new charges — he has remained in custody since the incident, but was facing less serious counts until Dies passed away — and is scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court this Friday. He is now being held without bail. Morua appeared in court Tuesday morning for an arraignment on his original charges, but his attorney, Sam Eaton, successfully petitioned Judge Thomas Adams to delay the hearing. Eaton has declined requests for comment.

Prosecutor Arnie Tolks said what degree of murder charge Morua faces will be determined during the case’s next phases, but explained it’s common for defendants in fatal DUI incidents to be prosecuted for second degree murder. Unlike first-degree murder — which requires that a killing be willful or premeditated — second-degree murder is defined by “malice aforethought,” Tolks said, noting “malice aforethought” can include gross negligence and reckless behavior with no regard for human life. In such cases, Tolks when on, a defendant’s history as it relates to driving under the influence plays a factor in their prosecution.