An undocumented immigrant has been accused of killing her high school boyfriend in a DUI accident, just after Wisconsin authorities notified federal immigration agents about her release. Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila reportedly got behind the wheel while intoxicated, driving the wrong way and colliding with another vehicle on a highway near Madison on July 20, resulting in the deaths of two teenagers.
Harry Helgeson, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 19-year-old Brady Heiling, who was driving, succumbed to his injuries after battling for five days in the hospital.
The Department of Homeland Security indicated that immigration agents apprehended Martinez-Avila outside the Dane County Jail on August 13. Initially, there was a request for her detention, but local law enforcement denied it, concerned that deportation might allow her to escape accountability.
Following this, local officers contacted immigration enforcement less than an hour before allowing her to leave the jail, according to DHS reports.
DHS Deputy Director Tricia McLaughlin criticized the local police for their actions, asserting that they had effectively given only a brief window for federal agents to make an arrest. She emphasized that this incident should not have resulted in Martinez-Avila being released, highlighting the risks to public safety involved.
Martinez-Avila had a prior record, including a DUI conviction in November 2020 and several other driving violations. Reports indicate that, in cases like hers, she was supposed to have an interlock device installed in her vehicle to prevent driving under the influence; however, that did not happen before the fatal crash.
Upon inspection, officers found numerous open beer cans inside her vehicle, and she exhibited signs of impairment during her sobriety test.
A breathalyzer test later revealed her blood alcohol concentration was over twice the legal limit. Martinez-Avila claimed she was returning home from Madison but struggled to provide the name of her street to police. Initially saying she hadn’t drunk that day, she later confessed to having consumed a couple of drinks.
Brady Heiling was airlifted from the scene and underwent several surgeries, fighting for his life until his death. His mother, Jen Heiling, expressed her profound grief online, mentioning the broken hearts of their family.
Martinez-Avila is facing two felony charges of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.
