Hit-and-run victim leaves behind 2 children; family talks about tragic death

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - The family of a 25-year-old woman killed last week in a hit-and-run crash spoke out on Monday. Their daughter, DesRay Lara, was the mother of two young children. Her body was found on the Hunt Highway in Pinal County. Detectives said the driver who hit her is a Johnson Utilities worker.

1-year-old Lacie will never have memories of her mother DesRay. Meanwhile, 4-year-old Lovely knows something happened to her mother, but does not understand that she's never coming back home.

"These little girls are never going to be able to hold their mom," said Martin Lara, DesRay's father.

"She had big dreams for them," said Carla Lara, DesRay's mother. "She wanted her to be a cheerleader, just like her."

Last week, DesRay's body was discovered along Hunt Highway. Pinal County investigators said she was the victim of a deadly hit and run. The alleged driver, identified as 42-year-old Marcigtan Winfrey, Sr., is suspected of hitting DesRay while driving his work truck, and didn't stop to help.

Winfrey, who eventually turned himself in, allegedly texted his supervisor, claiming he hit a barricade. He is now facing charges of leaving the scene of a fatal collision.

Meanwhile, DesRay's parents wonder if the driver had stopped to see what he had hit, would their daughter still be alive.

"Why?" said Carla. "Why would you just leave her on the side of the road. I want to know why you didn't give her help."

The family is asking for help to pay for funeral expenses. If you'd like to donate: www.gofundme.com/mother-of-two-murdereddesraylara