The Daily Populous Saturday December 21st, 2024 evening edition
Authored by wptv.com and submitted by Wats_it2ya

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — For the first time, we're hearing from the mother of the 6-year-old girl who was seriously hurt in a Martin County car crash in September.

Law enforcement said the crash was caused by Ryan Routh, the man charged in the attempted assassination of President-elect Donald Trump in Palm Beach County,

Prosecutors said Routh led authorities on a chase on Interstate 95, which caused law enforcement to close the road on the day of the incident.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said this week that during the apprehension and arrest of Routh, a car crash occurred that caused serious injuries to Mia Rosalie Monreal, a 6-year-old Port St. Lucie girl.

Mia was in a coma after the wreck and is still hospitalized in Jacksonville.

Zoom Norka Pardo speaks from hospital about her daughter's condition.

"I usually read a lot to her, I sing to her to let her know mommy is here, you're not alone," said Norka Pardo, Mia's mom.

Pardo said she was in the car with Mia, her youngest son and her boyfriend when the crash happened. She said she fractured her arm and had a concussion.

"All I was doing was asking about the kids and the nurses were trying to calm me down, and telling me we're worried about you right now," said Pardo.

Mia was airlifted to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital for surgery and then went to St. Mary's Medical Center for a month and a half.

Pardo said Mia suffered a severe brain injury and was in a coma for a month. On Wednesday, Mia was transferred to a Jacksonville hospital for therapy.

"She was not responding, she's not waking up at all, so they have to kind of help her out and give her medication to help her brain restart," Pardo said. "She's kind of opening her eyes, closing to fall asleep, opening her eyes but there was no response."

Despite living in St. Lucie County, Pardo said she's taken off work to be by her daughter's side.

WATCH: Ryan Routh to face charges in Martin County

Why Ryan Routh now faces state charges in Martin County

"Have you been able to have a clear conversation with her in the last three months?" asked WPTV reporter Joel Lopez.

"No and she can't communicate so even when I talk to her, I don't even know if she remembers me I don't know if she knows who I am, I don't know," said Pardo. "It's a miracle she's still alive, I can't imagine what she was going through and how she almost didn't make it."

She said Mia was very energetic and had dreams of being a gymnast. She said Mia was also very protective of her younger brother who is on the autism spectrum.

"I do have breakdowns very often. It's really hard also not being home with my other two kids," said Pardo. "Before the accident, I've always been a very overprotective mother and now I have to let go of that, because I can't be there for my little one and my oldest, because I have to be here with her."

On Wednesday Attorney General Ashley Moody was in Martin County to announce additional attempted murder charges against Ryan Routh.

Provided by family Norka Pardo with her daughter, Mia, and family.

"When you couple those terrible injuries together with his other criminal conduct, which we believe rises to the level of domestic terrorism, it turns his actions into an attempted felony murder case," Moody said.

"None of that is going to fix anything," said Pardo. "She's still in the hospital, we're still going through this, but I just hope he pays for what he did."

Right now, Mia's future is uncertain, but the family is planning on visiting her in the hospital in Jacksonville for Christmas.

If you'd like to help the family and Mia in her recovery, click the link here.

thecheat420 on December 20th, 2024 at 22:10 UTC »

So the person driving the car who actually caused the crash doesn't get charged?

towneetowne on December 20th, 2024 at 21:29 UTC »

The multi-vehicle accident occurred on I-95 approximately three or four miles south of where Routh's traffic stop occurred, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

acceptablerose99 on December 20th, 2024 at 21:19 UTC »

According to more thorough reporting the accident in question happened 35 minutes after Routh was placed in custody. I don't see how Florida prosecutors expect him to be found guilty for a car accident that he wasn't involved in.

Just because the police shut down the highway doesn't mean people aren't responsible for their own bad driving. This is a massive stretch to say Routh caused this accident. I feel for the family and hope the daughter recovers but the reporting on this article is trash.

Edit - better source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/alleged-trump-assassin-ryan-routh-faces-state-charge/story?id=116909160