An 18-year-old Idaho woman has been charged with first-degree murder after investigators say she deliberately drove her car into another young woman following a confrontation over a shared romantic partner. Police also allege the suspect recorded Snapchat messages afterward in which she admitted to running over the victim.
Alissa Mae Huerta, 18, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Jade Aliyah Ramirez, according to the Nampa Police Department.
Fatal Collision Reported in Parking Lot
According to police, officers responded at approximately 4:20 a.m. Sunday to reports of a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle in a parking lot along Caldwell Boulevard in Nampa, Idaho.
When officers arrived, they found Ramirez suffering from life-threatening injuries.
She was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Initially, investigators said there was not enough evidence to immediately file criminal charges.
However, as detectives continued examining the case, they determined there had been a confrontation between Ramirez and Huerta before the collision. Investigators ultimately concluded that the vehicle strike was intentional.
Dispute Allegedly Centered on Shared Romantic Partner
According to a probable cause affidavit, the conflict between the two women had been escalating for several months.
Investigators said the dispute began in February, when Ramirez confronted Huerta over an alleged intimate relationship with the father of Ramirez’s child.
Police said the women exchanged numerous threatening text messages and voice messages over the following months.
Authorities allege that Huerta and her sister eventually agreed to meet Ramirez in a Nampa parking lot for a physical fight.
According to investigators, Huerta’s sister admitted she intended to fight Ramirez during the meeting.
Baseball Bat Used During Confrontation
Huerta told detectives that Ramirez arrived carrying a baseball bat.
According to Huerta, Ramirez struck her Honda multiple times, shattering the driver’s-side window and damaging the windshield.
Huerta claimed she attempted to leave the parking lot and insisted she did not intentionally drive toward Ramirez.
Investigators Say Evidence Contradicts Her Account
Police said surveillance footage, witness video, and evidence recovered from Huerta’s cellphone contradicted her version of events.
According to the affidavit, video evidence allegedly shows the front bumper of Huerta’s vehicle striking Ramirez’s legs.
Investigators said Ramirez was thrown onto the hood of the Honda before her left leg became trapped in the driver’s-side wheel well.
The affidavit further alleges that the vehicle accelerated while turning around a nearby light pole, with the passenger-side door swinging open.
Police said Ramirez was then pulled beneath the vehicle before being left motionless in the parking lot.
Deleted Snapchat Messages Recovered
During the investigation, detectives recovered deleted Snapchat recordings from Huerta’s cellphone.
According to the affidavit, one recovered audio recording allegedly captured Huerta saying:
“I ran her over, though. I’m not going to lie.”
Investigators also recovered another recording in which she allegedly stated:
“My sister said like I deada— ran her over.”
Police allege these recordings were made after the fatal incident and contradicted her earlier statements denying that she intentionally struck Ramirez.
Murder Charge Filed
Following the investigation, detectives concluded that the collision was intentional.
Huerta was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
She made her initial court appearance following her arrest and remained in custody as of Wednesday evening, according to court records.
Investigation Continues
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal confrontation.
The charge against Huerta is an allegation, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Prosecutors will now proceed with the murder case as it moves through the Idaho court system.
