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And as it turns out, Gary Allan Godlove, of Hancock, apparently penned a heartfelt post to Kelby Lester of Berkley Springs, WV, and Mercersburg, PA, while on the run from police.
"When all them fake [f—ks] gave up on you because you took a wrong path for awhile you kno [sic] who was there for you thru it all an I’ll always have nothing but good to say about you," he wrote.
Godlove was believed to have been driving the vehicle that struck a tree on Winchester Boulevard north of Mountville Road in Mountville, around 3:20 a.m. on Aug. 17, 2023, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office announced in a release on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Lester was unresponsive and Godlove was nowhere to be found, authorities said. Emergency Medical Services personnel removed Lester from the vehicle and shortly thereafter pronounced him dead on scene.
Through an investigation, witness testimony, and evidence gathered at the scene and through technology, deputies identified Godlove as the vehicle driver.
He was arrested by Deputy 1st Class Bryan Bittenmaster on Monday, Jan. 8.
Bittenmaster taken Godlove to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center on Jan. 8 and slapped with 11 charges including failure to return and remain at scene of accident involving death, failure of driver in an accident to render reasonable assistance to an injured person, knowingly giving false accident report information, obstruction and hindering, and more.
On Jan. 9, Godlove had his bond review hearing, and Judge Julia Martz-Fisher held him without bond until his trial.
Lester's obituary says he enjoyed the great outdoors, particularly hiking, kayaking and snowboarding, and adored his faithful dog, Penelope, or "P."
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