Police: Connecticut teenager killed his girlfriend last year by hitting her with a truck

According to local authorities, a teenager in Connecticut killed his girlfriend during a drunken, violent night last year, ending up running her over with his truck.

Cooper Ouellette, now 19, turned himself in on Friday, according to an arrest warrant obtained by CBS affiliate WFSB on Monday.

Ouellette was charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of 17-year-old Sophie Ringquist on May 21, 2023, in Burlington, the Hartford Courant reported. After his arrest, he posted $50,000 bail and was released.

The two had a tumultuous on-off relationship before May 20, 2023, when Ouellette picked up Ringquist before a party in Terryville, police said. Along the way, Ouellette, as a minor, illegally purchased alcohol and distributed it to juveniles at the party, investigators said.

At the party, Ouellette and Ringquist got into a heated argument, and he kicked her with his boots and pushed her into the side of the truck, the warrant says. Although Ringquist tried to find another ride home, Ouellette insisted on giving her a ride, police said.

When the two finally left the party, Ouellette’s driving was erratic, troopers reported. Connecticut State Police said he accelerated sharply four times, slammed on the brakes five times and drove at over 70 miles per hour.

At one point, Ringquist began recording video of the drive, which police said shows her slowly opening the passenger door. At that point, Ouellette hits the accelerator and puts the vehicle at full speed, and Ringquist appears to fall out of the truck, investigators said.

Ringquist later sent a photo to several friends showing her with a bloody nose and a red mark on her face. According to police, Ringquist texted someone from the vehicle saying, “I’m scared.”

After the two got back into the truck together, Ouellette drove erratically near Ringquist’s house, eventually becoming “separated” from the vehicle and feeling “significant pain,” according to the arrest warrant.

Ringquist’s parents took her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:51 a.m., police said. Investigators said Ouellette appeared concerned about Ringquist during questioning and showed little emotion when told she was dead.

An autopsy revealed that she had died of blunt force injuries to her upper body; investigators determined the cause of death was homicide in a traffic accident.