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Family grieves loss of innocent woman in car crash with shoplifting suspects in Brownstown Township

Posted at 6:52 PM, Aug 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-04 20:55:41-04

Life changed so fast for Samantha Thiede. One moment she was texting her sister, asking why she was late for dinner. A short time later she found her sister’s car at the scene of a deadly crash at Dix-Toledo and Allen Road in Brownstown Township.

“Our family will never be the same without her,” said Thiede.

As her sister, 27-year-old Nicole Cutting of Trenton drove to meet her, she had no way of knowing decisions were being made that would cost her her life. Her loved ones are waiting to see details on those decisions - made by both the suspects and police.

“We just want to know, for closure,” said Thiede.

Minute-by-minute, this is what Woodhaven police say happened. At 4:40 p.m. a call came in from Meijer in Woodhaven. A woman shoplifted, then got in a Black F-150 with a man and took off.

At 4:42 p.m. Police say a Woodhaven police officer on I-75 saw a black F-150. He moved in for a closer look at the license plate.

“Unfortunately, at that point, the vehicle started driving recklessly  and moving away from our vehicle,” said Chief Vincent Price of the Woodhaven Police Department.

Chief Price says his officer did not aggressively pursue, and even lost site of the suspect, until he saw the accident scene at 4:44 p.m.

“That is exactly what we are here to do, is stop people from hurting other people,” said Price. “So this officer, while attempting to just get information on a suspect vehicle, observed him driving recklessly. They made that situation. Not the officer.”

“You have to stop for a cop.  And people need to remember, just because we stop pursuing doesn’t mean the driver stops running,” said Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police.

Michigan State Police investigated the crash, saying it happened because the driver ran a red light.

Police say there were multiple warrants out for the suspects.

Police identified the driver as Thomas Peterson from Monroe. He is being held right now for violating parole, but hasn’t been charged in connection to the crash.

Katie Chinavare, also from Monroe, is not charged with the crash, because police say she was only a passenger. This afternoon she was charged  with misdemeanor retail fraud, accused of taking food and children’s clothes.

“If my sister would have seen them, she would have bought it for them. I know it,” said Thiede.

She remembered the last time she saw her sister.  It is an example of how she worked to help people.

“She had just came over the other day actually, and was going to see if there was anything she could do to help the Veterans' Haven in Wayne,” said Thiede. “Our family will never be the same without her.”

Nicole Cutting leaves behind a husband, her sister, parents, and many more loved ones.

The family has released the following funeral arrangement:

Visitations:

Sunday, August 07, 2016
1:00 ~ 8:00 PM
Michigan Memorial Funeral Home
Services:

Monday, August 08, 2016
1:00 PM
Michigan Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Entombment in Michigan Memorial Park