Suspect in fatal hit-and-run held on $1 million cash bail

By News Staff

news@abc6.com

The suspect in the hit-and-run that killed Seekonk Assistant Town Clerk, Karen McHugh, has pleaded not guilty Monday in Taunton District Court.

State and local police arrested Jacob LaCourse, 24, at his apartment in Attleboro on Friday evening, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. He is charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, resulting in death, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

McHugh was discovered on the side of the road, unresponsive, just a few feet from her home on Arcade Avenue on January 30th. She was later pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital.

Police say LaCourse’s father notified authorities that his son owned a car consistent with the description of that one struck McHugh, but had since gotten rid of it. LaCourse’s girlfriend also admitted to police that her boyfriend was driving at the time of the accident.

Investigators have been following up on the case for months with a joint effort from Seekonk and State Police.

Joan McHugh, the victim’s mother, became emotional when describing her later daughter, “She was a wonderful person. That's all I can tell you. Everybody loved her. I do, she was my rock. I have two daughters. One has children and Karen was alone… and she was my rock."

LaCourse, who has a lengthy criminal history of rape and witness intimidation charges, is being held on $1 million cash bail.

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