Family angry over North Aurora fatal crash case

Although Doreen L. Cardenas was a criminal justice major, her real dream was to one day live in a certain mansion in downstate Springfield.

“Her dream was to be governor of Illinois,” recalled her mother, Belinda Rodriguez of Cicero.

The Cicero woman, along with about 50 of Cardenas' friends and family members, attended a court hearing Friday in Kane County for Lee Roy Patterson, a 30-year-old Aurora man who is accused of killing the 22-year-old Cardenas and injuring her friend Oct. 25 in North Aurora.

Patterson, of the 1000 block of Assell Avenue, faces up to 15 years in prison for the felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, according to the state's attorney's office. The case was continued to Dec. 17.

Patterson is accused of sideswiping pedestrians Cardenas and Pedro A. Navarro, 22, of North Aurora. Cardenas, of Cicero, was visiting Navarro, who was on military leave.

Police said Patterson surrendered about three hours after officers responded to a report of a traffic crash and found the victims in the area of 42 S. Grant Street about 2 a.m.

Cardenas' relatives and friends, many of whom were wearing white T-shirts adorned with her photo and the words, “Justice for Doreen,” gathered outside the courtroom.

They were upset that Associate Judge Leonard Wojtecki set Patterson's bail at $50,000 on Oct. 26. The next day, Patterson's family posted 10 percent bond, or $5,000, and Patterson was released.

“He's out there on the streets,” Rodriguez said of Patterson. “(Doreen) was somebody's daughter, somebody's sister, somebody's friend.”

Added Cardenas' cousin, Veronica Sancen: “You can't put a price on somebody's life.”

Navarro attended the hearing in a wheelchair with a large black brace on his left leg and a white bandage on his forehead. Supporters say they will attend every hearing and follow the case to the end.

“What hurt the most is just to see (Patterson) walk,” said Cardenas' friend, Philip Ramos.