Man Arraigned in Hit-Run Death of Brando Relative
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A Norwalk man has pleaded not guilty to felony charges in the June 2 hit-and-run death of actor Marlon Brando’s daughter-in-law.
Dennis Alberto Vanegas, 34, entered his plea earlier this week in Los Angeles Superior Court. He is charged with felony hit and run and drunk driving. An Oct. 1 pretrial hearing was set.
Jiselle Honore Brando, 29, the wife of Brando’s son Miko, was killed on the Santa Ana Freeway in the City of Commerce. Two other people in the car, Willie Lee Jefferson, 22, and Paul Tatin, 30, were injured in the accident.
The three were driving on the freeway about 3 a.m. when an argument broke out between the men, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Bronstein. They pulled over to the side of the freeway, got out of the car and the fight spilled over to traffic lanes. Jiselle Brando tried to intervene, Bronstein said. A vehicle, allegedly driven by Vanegas, hit the trio, dragging Brando 50 feet.
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