BARNSTABLE, Mass.—A Cape Cod teenager was ordered held on $500,000 bail Monday, three days after she disappeared from a court as she was about to be arraigned in the hit-and-run death of a wheelchair-bound woman.
Gina Giovangelo was recaptured over the weekend following a chase through the woods in Wareham. She returned to Barnstable District Court Monday in handcuffs and surrounded by police to face arraignment.
Giovangelo, 18, is charged with motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. She's accused of striking 47-year-old Lillian White with her car on May 18 as White crossed a street in her motorized wheelchair.
Giovangelo was due to be arraigned Friday but never returned to court from a cigarette break. She was originally released on $10,000 bail after her arrest, but a judge set bail at $500,000 Monday because she did not show up at her original arraignment.
Police searched for nearly two days after the accident before arresting Giovangelo.
Giovangelo went to court Friday morning with her lawyer, but then left the courthouse saying she was going outside to have a cigarette. She didn't return.
Police received a tip Saturday that she was at a Wareham motel. She allegedly ran barefoot from the motel into the woods and led a dozen officers on a 45-minute chase before she was captured.
Her attorney, George Hassett, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.
Two friends accused of sheltering Giovangelo were also arrested at the motel. Cameron Byers, 20, of Hyannis, and Jordan Robinson, 20, of Centerville, were charged with being accessories after the fact.
Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Monday. Byers was ordered held on $25,000 bail; Robinson was held on $15,000 bail.
