Medical examiner: Man was driving SUV that plunged into KK River during NYE pursuit
MILWAUKEE — Authorities say a 19-year-old pregnant woman, her toddler and her boyfriend all drowned when their car crashed into a Milwaukee river during a police chase on New Year's Eve.
The three who died Monday evening, Dec. 31 in the Kinnickinnic River have been identified as 19-year-old Shannon Nehmer, her 2-year-old daughter Annamelia Hernandez, and 29-year-old Charles Barefield, who was driving.
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Charles Barefield
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The Milwaukee County medical examiner said Thursday that they died from asphyxia due to fresh-water drowning and that Nehmer was several weeks pregnant.
Police officers had initiated a traffic stop because the Chevy Trailblazer, driven by Barefield, according to the medical examiner, matched the description of a car used in two armed robberies earlier that day. When the car fled, police chased it.
The robbery victims said two men and a woman were involved. Police said the third suspect was arrested and awaiting charges.
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Pursuit of Chevy Trailblazer that ended in KK River
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Nadialisse Rodriguez
Meanwhile, friends of Nehmer and Barefield, her boyfriend, said they were excited about starting a family, adding that Nehmer would never do anything to intentionally hurt her daughter. Police said their actions tell a different story.
Nadialisse Rodriguez said she saw Nehmer and her daughter on New Year's Eve.
"It hurts. It just breaks my heart," said Rodriguez.
Nehmer snapped a photo of her growing stomach, and was excited about her pregnancy.
"She was happy. We got to talking about baby shower ideas and the gender reveal ideas. Everything," said Rodriguez.
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Like many, Rodriguez was left wondering why her friend would have put herself and her daughter in such a dangerous situation. She said Barefield had become an increasingly bad influence on Nehmer.
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Shannon Nehmer, Annamelia Hernandez
"He loved Shannon. I just wish he didn't have Shannon doing the things she was doing. I'm very disappointed in Shannon, but at the end of the day, there's nothing I can go back and say 'that's going to change her decisions,'" said Rodriguez.