Orland Park Hit-And-Run Victim's Case Coming Together: Police

Bolingbrook's new Public Safety Director Ken Teppel told Patch on Wednesday that his village's hit-and-run investigation into the death of Orland Park resident Tricia Hoyt is coming together. Teppel indicated that this was not a case where police investigators were struggling or not sure where to turn for answers. In fact, Teppel projected a strong sense of optimism Bolingbrook's case is coming together.

"We've got some great information and very good leads," Teppel told Patch Wednesday afternoon. "It's a matter of piecing together all of the evidence and moving forward. At this point, we're very solid on the information we have."

However, the long-time member of the Bolingbrook Police Department and former deputy chief of police said his agency is working closely with the Will County State's Attorney's Office. The 35-year-old Hoyt was discovered shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday on the Frontage Road near Interstate 55. She had been run over by a vehicle probably between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. the previous night, Bolingbrook police have surmised.

Teppel said it was his understanding that Hoyt was in Bolingbrook attending a Saturday night party or gathering at the neighborhood in close proximity to where her body was found. He said she had walked out of the gathering and was walking along the Frontage Road, which is dimly lit and has no sidewalks.

"We've got good information on the possible driver," Teppel said.

When asked when criminal charges could be filed, Teppel responded by saying, "I'll defer that to the State's Attorney's Office. No charges have been issued yet. The investigation is still growing ..."

As of Wednesday night, the culprit had not been taken into custody.

Image of Tricia Hoyt provided to Patch