Teen Texted ‘I’m Scared’ After Alleged Violent ...

Cooper Oullette has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and delivery of alcohol to a minor in connection with the death of 17-year-old Sophie Ringquist A Connecticut man is accused of running over his 17-year-old girlfriend with his truck last year in what authorities are calling a “domestic violence” incident, according to an arrest warrant obtained by multiple news outlets

Published Time: 18.07.2024 - 00:31:09 Modified Time: 18.07.2024 - 00:31:09

Cooper Oullette has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and delivery of alcohol to a minor in connection with the death of 17-year-old Sophie Ringquist

A Connecticut man is accused of running over his 17-year-old girlfriend with his truck last year in what authorities are calling a “domestic violence” incident, according to an arrest warrant obtained by multiple news outlets.

Cooper Oullette, 19, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and delivery of alcohol to a minor in connection with the 2023 death of 17-year-old Sophie Ringquist, per the warrant, which was cited by the Hartford Courant, WTIC-TV and WFSB.

Oullette surrendered to Connecticut State Police on July 12 and was released on a $50,000 bond, according to the warrant. He was expected to appear in court on July 15. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

An investigation began on May 21, 2023, when Ringquist was brought to Bristol Hospital in Bristol, Conn., by family members after purportedly falling out of her boyfriend’s Chevy pickup truck earlier that evening in Burlington, Conn., according to the warrant cited by WFSB. She later died from her injuries.

The warrant states that prior to the alleged incident, Oulette, who was 18 at the time, and Ringquist were attending a party in Terryville, where a witness allegedly reported that the two were “engaged in multiple incidents of physical domestic violence,” WTIC-TV reported. Oulette allegedly drank alcohol, kept some in his truck, and distributed some at the party, the warrant states. Authorities reportedly said the two were in an “on-again, off-again relationship.”

The couple then left together in Oulette’s truck that night after he allegedly interrupted efforts for her to get another ride home, according to the warrant cited by WTIC-TV. Police claimed Oulette was driving “erratically” and at one point pulled over to a side road and began recording Ringquist with his phone. In the clip, authorities allege Rinquist tried getting out of the truck while Oullette accelerated, knocking the girl to the ground.

According to the warrant cited -

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by the Hartford Courant, Ringquist then sent a text to someone saying, “I’m scared.” Authorities believe that’s when Ringquist got back into the truck and Oulette drove in the direction of her home. However, evidence including cell phone data and witness statements, allegedly shows Oulette’s truck speeding through the girl’s neighborhood. Authorities said, per the warrant, that Ringquist sent a photo to someone showing herself with a bloody nose and a mark on her face.

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Investigators believe that at some point, Oullette accelerated when Ringquist was outside the truck, causing her to get crushed by one of the truck's tires, per the warrant cited by WTIC-TV. He then dropped her off at home. Oulette initially claimed to police that Ringquist fell from the truck after she felt like she had to vomit and that he stopped the truck before she fell, the outlet reported.

Ringquist’s obituary states she died on May 21, 2023, “as a result of a senseless accident.” She was described in the obit as a passionate young woman who was expected to graduate from Lewis Mills High School a semester early and study construction management.

In a statement shared with NBC Connecticut, Ringquist’s family thanked law enforcement for their hard work in the case.

“We implore anyone who has been a victim of or witness to domestic violence to stand up for the victim and report it to the police,” the statement read, in part. “We would like to thank all friends, family, and people Sophie had an impact on for their continued prayers as we negotiate this part of the process in our continued search for truth and justice for Sophie.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.