Man Denies Charges in Death of Brando’s Daughter-in-Law

A man pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges in the hit-and-run death of Jiselle Honore Brando of Buena Park, daughter-in-law of actor Marlon Brando.

Dennis Alberto Vanegas, 34, of Norwalk was held on $5,000 bail after entering the plea in Municipal Court. An Aug. 9 preliminary hearing was set.

Vanegas was charged with one count of felony hit and run, two counts of drunk driving and two counts of driving with a suspended license.

Jiselle Brando, 29, wife of the actor’s son Miko, was struck and killed June 2 on the Santa Ana Freeway in City of Commerce.

Two companions, Willie Lee Jefferson, 22, and Paul Tatin, 30, were injured. They also lived at the Buena Park address.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Bronstein, Jiselle Brando and the two men were driving on the freeway about 2:45 a.m. when an argument broke out between Jefferson and Tatin.

The car pulled to the side of the freeway south of the Washington Boulevard exit and the men got out and began fighting over who would drive.

The fight moved out into the traffic lanes and Brando got out and tried to intervene.

A pickup truck struck at least one of the three and did not stop. All three fell to the pavement and a second vehicle, allegedly driven by Vanegas, hit the three, according to Bronstein. Brando was dragged about 50 feet.

A license plate fell off at the scene, leading to Vanegas’ arrest two hours later by the California Highway Patrol. He was given a blood-alcohol test and then released pending further investigation.

A felony complaint was filed July 23 and Vanegas was arrested Friday.

The driver of the pickup truck that hit the victims first was never located, Bronstein said.