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Indy woman starts support group to honor memory of daughter killed in hit-and-run

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis woman is honoring the memory of her daughter killed in a hit-and-run one year ago.

Pamela Grant said her daughter, Tanya Turman, died from her injuries on April 18. The hit-and-run happened near Bolton Avenue and Staughton Drive on March 26.

“I’m dealing with it a lot better now,” Grant said of her daughter’s death.

Grant returned to the place where her daughter was hit by a car on the one-year anniversary of her death.

Tanya was walking to a bus stop when she was hit by an SUV. The driver kept going and didn’t stop, leaving Tanya, who was deaf, in the street.

“I come out here and I put up something for the holidays and stuff to remember her,” she said.

Police said the driver, Corey Patrick, turned himself in last April. He accepted a plea deal with prosecutors just last week, pleading guilty to failure to stop after an accident resulting in death.

Patrick is scheduled to be back in court in June for a sentencing hearing. Prosecutors are asking for one year in prison and one year probation.

“I’m thankful that he did turn himself in because there are a lot of families out here who don’t know who did it,” she said. “I’m very grateful for him stepping up and taking responsibility.”

Grant told 24-Hour News 8 this past year has been difficult for her family. Despite the pain, she said she found the courage and strength to forgive Patrick.

“I do forgive him. You can’t walk around with hate, that’s not going to change anything and he’s got to deal with just as much as I do,” she said. “I’m a Christian and I talked to God about it so I’m okay.”

Grant said she’s moving forward by turning her pain into hope. She started a support group called Silent Angels.

“I just want to be out there to help other people because I know how it is going to the hospital every day or being there and having somebody to talk to, so that’s my main reason for starting this group,” she said.

Grant said she met with IMPD assistant police Chief Randy Taylor on Monday. The two talked about her support group, Silent Angels, and how she wants to help families of victims and survivors.

A benefit dinner is scheduled for this weekend.

“I’m not doing this just for my daughter,” she said. “I’m doing this for all the hit-and-run victims.”

The Diamonds and Pearls Benefit Dinner is taking place at the Brookside Park Auditorium on April 23 at 4 p.m.

If you cannot attend the dinner, but would like to make a monetary donation, you can stop by any Old National Bank.