A person of interest in a hit and run fatal traffic fatality reportedly confessed his involvement after being arrested on unrelated charges over the weekend. 34-year-old Joseph Whybark was booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center on burglary, prohibited weapons possession and driving on a suspended license.
Mohave County Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Anita Mortensen said detectives responded to the jail to question Whybark about the April 23, 2019 death of Krisandrea Lynn Pannell-Cashen in Golden Valley. The 62-year-old Bullhead City resident was dead at the scene where her body was located in the roadway of an area in the vicinity of Colorado Road and Brook Drive.
The vehicle suspected of striking Pannell-Cashen was located the next day where it had been abandoned in a wash on the west end of Golden Valley. “A search warrant was obtained by detectives and information was gathered indicating Whybark was operating the vehicle at the time of the collision,” Mortensen said.
Mortensen said Whybark admitted being the hit and run driver when questioned by detectives at the jail on Sunday. She said he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death, failure to stay on the scene, tampering with physical evidence and driving when his license was suspended.
Mortensen said more charges may result from ongoing investigation.
