ROCHESTER — An Akron man pled guilty to two charges for a hit-and-run vehicle accident that resulted in the death of Brelynna Felix, a 12-year-old Tippecanoe Valley Middle School student.
Gage Martin Rogers, 27, of 1690 S. Ind. 19, Akron, pled guilty to failure to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death, a Level 4 felony; and leaving the scene of an accident with moderate or serious bodily injury, a Level 6 felony.
Rogers pled guilty in Fulton Superior Court on Thursday.
The plea agreement calls for both counts to run consecutively. In Indiana, a Level 4 felony can carry a two to 12-year sentence, with the advisory sentence being six years. A Level 6 felony can carry a sentence of six months to 2-1/2 years, with an advisory sentence of one year.
Fulton Superior Court Judge Gregory Heller took Rogers' plea under advisement and ordered the county's probation department to prepare a pre-sentence investigation report.
Rogers will be sentenced at 11 a.m. Jan. 3.
Around 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, 2021, emergency personnel responded to the area of Ind. 19 and CR 50N, north of Akron, regarding a report of a child being hit by a vehicle. Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that several children were walking together on the road when a boy, who was 15 at the time, was hit by what appeared to be a vehicle's mirror. The boy was later identified as Isaiah Felix.
According to court documents, Isaiah was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital with serious facial injuries. During the investigation, it was also discovered that Brelynna, who had been with the group, was missing.
A search was conducted in the area and Brelynna was found deceased in a field. Evidence at the scene showed Brelynna was hit by a northbound vehicle.
Vehicle parts at the scene appeared to come from a 2002-05 Dodge Ram.
On Nov. 6, 2021, an Akron police officer informed the Fulton County Sheriff's Office about finding the suspect vehicle. The Akron officer said the damage to the vehicle was consistent with what was observed from the accident scene.
In his interview with officers, Rogers said he hit what he believed was a deer north of Akron, before CR 100N. He also provided names of three other individuals who were with him in the vehicle at the time.
Rogers said he didn't stop his vehicle and continued into Mentone to survey the damage. He then drove to Etna Green and returned to Akron the morning of Nov. 6, 2021. Rogers said he was the only one that drove the vehicle from the time of the accident until his interview with officers.
