Reward raised for information that leads to arrest in deadly Salinas hit-and-run

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV 2019) A Monterey County family is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible for hitting and killing 54-year-old Gretchen Knowles.

In June, Knowles was walking on the 2200 block of North Main Street in the early hours of the morning and struck by a car likely heading southbound. The retired nurse was pronounced dead at the scene.

There still have been no arrests made in this case. Knowles daughter said the only way for some sort of closure in her mom's death is to find the person responsible.

“She was a mom. I understand maybe if they know someone they don’t want to come forward, because it's their loved one. I would ask that they kind of put themselves in my shoes. If it was their mom or daughter they’d want peace and to know what happened,” Knowles daughter Katrina Randazzo said.

The day of Knowles death was the same date Randazzo's wedding was planned for the next year.

“We had to change our wedding. It was so minor in the grand scheme of things, but it’s effected my life in so many ways. My mom wanted to be at my wedding and she’s never going to be able to do that,” Randazzo said.

In the week following the deadly hit and run Knowles’ family posted a $2000 reward for information that led to the suspect, now in a desperate plea they’ve raised it to five grand.

“That person told somebody. Who ever is responsible, I feel like they told a family member, a spouse or a friend,” Knowles daughter said.

Katrina said police believe it was a large sedan or small SUV, but the limited surveillance footage and darkness made it nearly impossible to make out the vehicle that darted off after hitting Knowles.

You can remain anonymous if you come forward to Salinas Police with information in this case.