A Connecticut man turned himself in last week after state troopers accused him of running over his 17-year-old girlfriend with his truck last year, authorities announced Monday.
Cooper Anderson Ouellette, 19, is charged with manslaughter and delivery of alcohol to a minor in the death of his girlfriend, who died in May 2023 after being hit by his truck, according to an arrest warrant shared by authorities.
The victim’s name was redacted in the document, but reports from local Fox affiliate WTIC-TV identified her as high school junior Sophie Ringquist, 17.
Using evidence collected from Oullette’s cell phone, vehicle data, witness statements, photos and videos, the warrant describes the intense moments thought to have led up to Ringquist’s death.
The night of the incident, Ringquist and Oullette were at a party together. Witnesses at the party told authorities that the couple were arguing throughout the night and said Ouelette had kicked Ringquist with his boot and shoved her to the side of his truck, according to the warrant.
One witness told police that Ringquist called multiple people to try and get a ride home, according to the warrant. The witness said that she saw Ouellette getting mad at Ringquist for calling others for a ride and that he grabbed Ringquist’s phone out of her hand.
Another witness told police that they received a call from Ringquist, stating that Ouellette was drunk and was following her around the party, according to the warrant.
Ringquist and Ouellette left the party together. Oullette was driving “erratically,” and pulled over at one point to record Ringquist with his phone, according to the warrant.
The video depicted Ringquist inside Ouellete’s moving truck as she attempted to get out, according to the warrant. Ouellete then accelerated and she was knocked to the ground.
Police said Ringquist gasped for air and sobbed as the video ended, according to the warrant. She texted a friend, “I’m scared,” before getting back into the vehicle.
Ouellete continued to drive erratically in Ringquist’s neighborhood and drove past her home without dropping her off, according to the warrant. She then took two photos of her face from inside the vehicle, which showed her crying with a bloody nose. Police said one of these photos was sent to a close friend.
The vehicle would continue to pass Ringquist’s home a second time without dropping her off, but this time, she was “separated” from the truck and fell onto a nearby road, according to the warrant.
Police said that Ouellette accelerated when Ringquist was outside the truck this time, crushing her with one of the tires, according to the warrant. Ouellette then went to Ringquist’s home, but allegedly moved her body into the passenger seat before driving her to her home.
Her family rushed her to the hospital, where she died less than an hour later, according to the warrant.
Ringquist’s family is now speaking out against domestic violence following the teen’s death.
“We implore anyone who has been a victim of or witness to domestic violence to stand up for the victim and report it to the police,” the Ringquist family said in a statement shared with WTIC. “We would like to thank all friends, family, and people Sophie had an impact on for their continued prayers as we negotiate this part of the process in our continued search for truth and justice for Sophie.”
Ouellette is scheduled to be arraigned on July 29. His attorney did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-866-331-9474 or text “loveis” to 22522 for the National Dating Abuse Helpline.
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