POINT PLEASANT – The two individuals behind the 2018 hit-and-run that left 14-year old Emma Mae Gnolfo in critical condition have pled guilty, announced Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Brittany Keifer, 27, of Point Pleasant and Kyle Ramos, 29, of Seaside Heights pled guilty yesterday before the Honorable Therese A. Cunningham, J.S.C., in connection with the August 9, 2018 incident.
Keifer pled guilty to Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury as well as to the motor vehicle offense of Leaving the Scene of an Accident.
Ramos pled guilty to Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution.
The State will be seeking a term of 364 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of probation for Keifer, and a term of probation for Ramos. Sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2020.
On August 9, 2018, Point Pleasant Police responded to Route 88 for reports of a hit and run. It was discovered that a female juvenile riding a bicycle had been struck by a dark colored BMW, which had already fled the scene. The victim suffered serious bodily injuries and was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center.
Further investigation determined that Keifer had struck the juvenile with her vehicle, fled the scene, and contacted Ramos to pick her up at a location several blocks away in Point Pleasant. Ramos helped Keifer hide the vehicle and attempted to have the vehicle repaired in an effort to hinder the investigation.
Keifer turned herself in to law enforcement the following day.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledged the diligent effort of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Abatemarco for prosecuting these defendants on behalf of the State, as well as the collaborative efforts of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit in bringing these defendants to justice.
