Toni Marletta Pleads Guilty in Fatal Hit-and-Run That Killed Girl, 15

Middletown, NJ - Toni Marletta, the Leonardo woman accused of killing 15-year-old Highlands girl Marissa Procopio in a fatal hit-and-run accident last summer, has decided to plead guilty, reported More Monmouth Musings.

At her arraignment on June 20, the Monmouth County prosecutor offered Marletta, 50, a deal: Plead guilty to one count of Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death and multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child, as well as auto charges.

In return, the county prosecutor would make a recommendation of seven years in prison. Marletta had until Tuesday, Sept. 6, to decide whether or not to take the deal, which expired by the end of today. She is scheduled to formally enter her guilty plea on Sept. 16 and will be sentenced on Dec. 2.

Marissa's mother, Danielle Procopio, has repeatedly said that 7 years is too lenient.

"She got away with murder," she said. "She's facing 5 to 10 years, and she may even get out in as early as 2 to 3. The justice system failed my daughter."

If Marletta had decided to reject the plea offering and take her chances at a trial, she was facing up to 30 years in prison.

On the evening of July 7, 2015 police said Marletta struck Marissa as the girl was trying to cross Rt. 36 near Avenue D at dusk.

Marletta, who had three 16-year-old girls in her car at the time, fled the scene, police said. But Middletown police found her car later that evening, parked outside of her Thompson Avenue home in Leonardo. It showed damage consistent with the collision, police said, and she was arrested Wednesday morning.

Marletta was tested by Middletown police after she was arrested and the results of that toxicology test were shared with Danielle. However, tests could not prove that drugs and alcohol were in her system at the time of the hit and run, Danielle said she was told by Middletown police.

Marissa, an honor roll student at Henry Hudson High School in Highlands, died of massive head trauma at Jersey Shore Medical Center. She was taken off life support 24 hours after she was hit.