On January 26th, Shepherd was found dead on Interstate 4. Albert Ayala, 34, of Florida, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, along with driving while his license was suspended, for his role in the death of his girlfriend, Tequila Shepherd.
At the time of the killing, Ayala had told authorities that Shepherd jumped out of his car during an argument he was having with her at the time of the incident. A witness reported driving behind Ayala’s car when the argument ensued. Ayala claimed he tried to exit the freeway in order to turn around and retrieve Shepherd when he lost control of his vehicle, only to crash on the off-ramp ahead. He subsequently fled the scene.
Ayala was charged with his crime on Wednesday after giving a statement to the police on his whereabouts that night. He admitted to having picked up Shepherd from work shortly before she died. He is currently awaiting a final decision in the Orange County jail.
While this is clearly a tragedy, it is essential to recognize that Albert Ayala is still accountable for his actions, regardless of his version of the event. This is why the justice system is in place – to make sure the guilty is dealt with according to its verdict. It remains to be seen what penalty Ayala will receive for his transgressions.