Current:Home > NewsWife, daughter of retired police chief killed in cycling hit-and-run speak out -StockFocus
Wife, daughter of retired police chief killed in cycling hit-and-run speak out
View
Date:2025-04-13 16:16:15
For grieving widow Crystal Probst, the nightmare began two months ago with an alert sent from her husband’s Apple Watch.
Andy Probst, 64, was out for his morning bike ride on Aug. 14, when the device on his wrist detected a hard fall just blocks from his Las Vegas home. The device called 911 and alerted Crystal, his emergency contact, via text message.
Taylor Probst, Andy’s daughter, told ABC News, “Chopper was out. You could hear sirens in all different directions. And I vividly remember [my mom] turning to me saying, ‘That's for dad. That's for dad.'"
But Crystal and Taylor say they never could have imagined what happened to the beloved father and husband.
Probst, a retired police chief for Bell, California, was riding in the designated bike lane when a vehicle slammed into him, according to authorities. Two teenagers face murder charges in the alleged intentional hit-and-run.
“I saw everything, from where the phone was, where half of his helmet was and then where the bike was,” Taylor said.
Initially declared an accident, weeks went by before the shocking video of the alleged hit-and-run surfaced.
MORE: Retired police chief killed in hit-and-run died in 'cold and callous' way: Family
Authorities allege it shows then-17-year-old Jesus Ayala behind the wheel and 16-year-old Jzamir Keys recording the video from the passenger seat as they’re seen side-swiping a car. Police say the teens start laughing while one of them says, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, hit his a--” as the car pulls up behind Probst just before the fatal collision.
Authorities say the video was brought to the attention of law enforcement by a high school student who saw it and alerted their school resource officer.
“I can't think of too many cases I've ever had that -- where you have the audio, the video of what they're thinking and doing before the murder, as they commit the murder and after the murder. And there's just not many cases where you get all three of those,” Lt. Jason Johansson of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told ABC News.
Taylor says the now-viral video has haunted her since she saw it.
“We're happy that video exists because that's how it got switched over from an accident to a homicide. But we didn't want the entire world seeing it,” Taylor said.
Ayala, now 18, and Keys are accused of committing a series of crimes the morning of Aug. 14 -- three car thefts and three hit-and-runs, including the one that killed Probst, authorities said.
Both have been charged as adults with murder with use of a deadly weapon, battery with use of a deadly weapon and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon. Ayala, who is accused of driving a stolen Hyundai Electra during Probst's alleged hit-and-run, is also charged with leaving the scene of a crash and possession of a stolen vehicle, among other charges.
Ayala and Keys pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Johansson alleges Ayala made statements to law enforcement on body camera footage after the alleged hit-and-run, saying he believed he was going to “get a slap on the wrist” and “be out in 30 days.”
“I think we all know now that probably is not going to be the case," Johansson said.
When asked about their reaction to Ayala’s comments, Taylor and Crystal did not mince words about the alleged killer.
“He’s an entitled little f---,” Crystal said.
“My reaction was, he doesn't, he doesn't even know what's f------ coming. Yeah, he is about to get slapped in the face real hard with reality,” Taylor said.
Meanwhile, the grieving daughter is now facing a future without her father.
“I'll never get to have my dad there, have that, you know, daddy daughter dance, have him give me away or anything like that, and that hurts. That hurts that was robbed from me. And that was robbed from my mom and my brother,” Taylor said through tears.
Crystal still sometimes wears her husband’s shattered watch that first alerted her to the unimaginable tragedy.
"Everybody says, you got to go get it fixed, but I don't know if I want to," Crystal said.
“It’s hard to grieve when you are so angry," she added.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Maryland lawmakers OK plan to rebuild Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness
- At movie industry convention, leaders say blockbusters alone aren’t enough
- Solar flares reported during total eclipse as sun nears solar maximum. What are they?
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- West Virginia had a whopping 5 tornadoes last week, more than double the yearly average
- Celebrities You Didn't Know Were on Cameo, Including Reality Stars, Athletes, Comedians & More
- James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of Michigan shooter, to be sentenced today
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Sister of Maine mass shooting victim calls lawmakers’ 11th-hour bid for red flag law ‘nefarious’
Ranking
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Suki Waterhouse Embraces Her Postpartum Body With Refreshing Message
- Gypsy Rose Blanchard Files for Divorce From Ryan Anderson 3 Months After Prison Release
- Google brings the total solar eclipse to your screen: Here's how to see it
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Powerball winning numbers for April 8 drawing: Jackpot resets to $20 million after big win
- Pregnant Vanderpump Rules Star Lala Kent Reveals the Sex of Baby No. 2
- Spring is hummingbird migration season: Interactive map shows where they will be
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
From the sandwich shop to the radio airwaves, how the solar eclipse united a Vermont town
Towboat owner gets probation in 2018 river oil spill along West Virginia-Kentucky border
Many eclipse visitors to northern New England pulled an all-nighter trying to leave
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
Wisconsin Senate’s longest-serving member will not seek reelection
Powerball winning ticket sold in Oregon for $1.326 billion jackpot
Calvin Harris’ Wife Vick Hope Admits She Listens to Taylor Swift When He’s Gone