FLORENCE, Ala. — After almost 2 years of investigating a deadly hit-and-run, Florence Police Department has arrested Marlin Javier Lopez.
On December 20, 2021, FPD responded to a report of a pedestrian having been struck by a vehicle on Chisholm Rd. near the intersection with E. Rasch Rd. Police say they identified the victim as Lori Avery, a 56 year old woman from Florence. Avery was pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Services.
Florence Police Investigators say that after analyzing the evidence, they were able to identify the car that hit Avery was a Nissan Altima. On December 26, 2021, Florence Patrol Officer located the Nissan in the 100 block of S. Kirkman St. in Florence. Investigators learned that the driver of the car was Marlin Javier Lopez, a 50 year old man from Florence. Lopez was not a resident of the address, but had left the car parked behind the house.
FPD issued a warrant for Javier Lopez for leaving the scene of an accident. Investigators located Javier Lopez and requested assistance from the United States Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force as well as the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
On November 29, 2023, Javier Lopez was located in the Atlanta, Georgia area and was arrested. Lopez is currently being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center without a bond.
