Alexandria couple fights to not have to pay tickets while car was stolen, used in homicide
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) — When Bob Shepherd was getting ready to go to work one Monday morning in April, he came face-to-face with something more daunting than D.C. rush hour traffic: his wife's car was stolen.
Angie Shepherd said she heard the family dog barking late the night before, and put it all together when her husband told her about the missing car. However, they could have never imagined what they learned next.
Days later, they got a call from Prince George's County Police. A detective told them their car had been used in a homicide in Suitland.
"We saw the video of them getting out of her vehicle, shooting the other guy, get back in the car and drive off," Bob Shepherd said.
As of the last time they spoke with the homicide detective, the suspects are not in police custody.
"The PTSD I'm suffering from because every time someone knocks on my door, I'm worried it's them coming back," Angie Shepherd said.
While their car was stolen, the perpetrators also racked up $400 in traffic tickets in Washington, D.C.
READ MORE: As carjacking cases rise, here's how to protect yourself and your vehicle
Now, the Shepherds are left with the bill.
“Are you kidding me? Car is stolen, involved in a homicide, and then you want to charge me for the tickets, even though I’ve given you all of the documentation showing that it’s been involved in a homicide," Bob Shepherd said. "I sent these documents of all the incidents that happened showing the car was not in our possession when it happened. They said, 'You're liable for those tickets."
7News is On Your Side getting answers, and reached out to MPD to see if they had a response to this, but they deferred to D.C. DMV.
We then sent an email to D.C. DMV's media contact, but got an automatic reply stating he was out of town and to call a number for immediate assistance. When calling that number, the voicemail said that person was also out of the office.
The Shepherds have had similar difficulties getting in touch with the department, except their issues started in April.
"You can't get in touch with them," Angie Shepherd said.
Added Bob Shepherd: "No, not going to pay [the tickets]."
The Shepherds are not alone in fighting D.C. over traffic tickets they did not earn.
Last year, the 7News I-Team reported on D.C. forcing a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran to pay $2,000 in traffic tickets issued to his car after he had been carjacked.
Now, the Shepherds are hoping their story leads to changes in how that department adjudicates tickets in situations like the one they experienced, so nobody else goes through this.
“I know it has happened. I have talked to so many people that have had to battle D.C. for tickets," Bob Shepherd said. "You have to show evidence it wasn't you. You have to go back-and-forth with them, 'I was never there.'"
