Cops Promise Arrest In Hit-And-Run

Hillsborough County Sheriff Cal Henderson said Tuesday an arrest will be made in the deaths of two brothers by a hit-and-run driver last week.

Henderson did not say whether they would arrest the young dance teacher who came forward on Monday to say she was the driver of one of the cars connected to the accident. But he said deputies are carefully processing evidence in the case.

Jennifer Porter, a 28-year-old teacher at a nearby elementary school, and her attorney Barry Cohen said she was the driver of one of the cars being sought in the investigation.

In a news conference called by her attorney, Jennifer Porter, 28, of Land O'Lakes, apologized to the children's mother, Malissa Wilkins.

"I want to express my deepest sympathies to Lisa Wilkins, her family, friends and the whole community,"

As many as two other vehicles might have been involved in the March 31 incident in which four siblings were hit as they crossed the street in front of a community center.

Had she stopped, Porter might not even have been ticketed, but now could face

The crash killed Bryant Wilkins, 13, and his 3-year-old brother Durentae Caldwell. Bryant was killed instantly, while Durenetae was dragged to his death, reports Bowers.

Their sister, 8-year-old Aquina Wilkins, was released Tuesday from St. Joseph's Children's Hospital where she was treated for a broken arm. Her brother, LaJuan Davis, 2, was discharged last week.

None of the cars thought to have struck the children stopped when the children were hit. Witnesses tell CBS News one of the fleeing cars may have dimmed the lights to shield a license plate.

Cohen said Porter was too scared and traumatized to stop.

The children's mother appeared at the news conference and intended to respond to Porter's public admission, but was too distraught to talk. She sobbed on a friend's shoulder and was lead from the room.

"We want to assure the community that we are doing all we can do," Henderson said. "A quick arrest is not the objective here. The objective here is a thorough investigation."

Thomas Parnell, Malissa Wilkins' attorney, said the family is supportive of the slow, deliberate pace of the investigation and asked the public to "relax and let them do their job."

"They are eager to make an arrest," Parnell said. "Please let them do their jobs."

A sheriff's spokesman said his office has received calls from across the country asking them why Porter has not been arrested when she seemingly has admitted to leaving the scene of an accident in which children were killed and injured.

But sheriff's officials said Porter's statement on Monday was carefully worded and she personally admitted to nothing. It was her attorney who said she was the driver of the car and that's not enough reason to make an arrest.

"She didn't admit to anything, other than to say she was sorry," Henderson said. "We're all sorry."

Crime scene technicians at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement laboratory in Tampa have taken the Toyota Echo Porter was driving apart to search for evidence, including DNA, in an attempt to prove whether the car hit any of the children.

Telephone calls to Cohen's office were not immediately returned Tuesday. Cohen has said Porter will cooperate with investigators and has urged the other drivers who might be involved to also turn themselves in.