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Hit and run killer charged with lesser crime

No surprise here. Her attorney signaled last week that this would be the charge. Still, it’s galling to see this white killer of black children treated with kid gloves. See, if you have a fancy lawyer, you can turn yourself in, avoid handcuffs, and bond out of jail before you even see a cell. This would be fine if everyone were allowed to do it, but in real life, sheriffs go out and arrest people and take them to jail when they murder someone.

This woman could have turned around and attempted to assist the 2 children who were still alive. She could have aided the police in their investigation. She could have at least called 911. Instead, she called home, ran away, and hired an expensive lawyer.

Linda Edwards is right, and Jennifer Porter is not going to get any pity form me.

Jennifer Porter, the 28-year-old schoolteacher who admitted involvement in the March 31 hit-and-run that killed two brothers, turned herself in at the Orient Road Jail this morning after traffic investigators issued a warrant for her arrest.

Porter, of Land O' Lakes, is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death or personal injuries. She was accompanied by her attorney, Barry Cohen, when she arrived at the jail shortly before 10 a.m.

She was released from jail a short time later after posting a $7,500 bond.

As she left the jail, Porter was confronted by Linda Edwards of Tampa, who ran up to Porter and screamed, "Murderer! Murderer! You killed those kids. You killed those kids."

Porter, who was escorted by a bail bondsman, kept her head and eyes down and did not respond.

Edwards said she doesn't know Lisa Wilkins, the mother of the two boys who were killed in the hit-and-run accident. But Edward said she had gone to the childrens' funeral.

"I came down here to get some answers and I wanted her to know that I am one black woman who is very angry and there are thousands of others just like me," Edwards said.

"She gets to come down here and pay some money and walk out like nothing happened," Edwards said.

Shortly before 10 a.m., Porter he was brought into the jail flanked by about a half dozen sheriff's deputies, but not handcuffed.

The charge stems from a hit- and-run accident that killed Bryant Wilkins, 13, and his brother Durontae Caldwell, 3, and injured siblings Aquina Wilkins, 8, and Lajuan Davis, 2.

Investigators initially said the children were hit by two or perhaps three vehicles as they crossed North 22nd Street in Tampa. So far, Porter is the only driver to come forward.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's officials said broken car fragments found after the crash match the 2000 Toyota Echo Porter said she was driving that night, and damage to the Echo was consistent with evidence found at the scene.

Officials also said Porter was seen by witnesses getting into the car three minutes before the accident three blocks away.

Officials said Porter did not stop to see if anyone was hurt, help with injuries, provide information or notify emergency services.