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'Party Princess' Accused Of Deadly Hit & Run Faces New Charges

MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Self-proclaimed party princess Karlie Tomica, who is accused of killing South Beach chef Stefano Riccioletti in a hit-and-run accident, faces four new charges related to the crash, including DUI manslaughter.

According to a motion filed by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, Tomica faces the additional charges of: leaving the scene of an accident with death; DUI Manslaughter, DUI/Property Damage; and Resisting an officer without violence.  Initially, Tomica was only charged with leaving the scene of a deadly accident. Police had to wait until toxicology reports before prosecutors could file the additional charges.

Tomica faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges and was being held on a $77,000 bond.

In addition to the bond, Tomica will be on house arrest with a GPS monitor, must attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings three days a week, is not allowed to go to clubs or bars, had to surrender her passport and will now be living with her parents.

According to the SAO's office, Tomica left Nikki Beach "while highly intoxicated" and drove her boyfriends grey Dodge Charger down Collins Avenue and "began travelling at a high rate of speed."

The SAO said Tomica hit Riccioletti near the intersection of 18th Street and Collins Avenue.

"The victim impacted with the front end of the Charger in a horrific collision," the State Attorney's Office report motion stated. "The victim was thrown from the impact and landed broken and bleeding near the entrance to a hotel."

Riccioletti, the executive chef at the Shore Club on Miami Beach, was on his way to work when he was struck and killed. The SAO's office described massive injuries suffered by Riccioletti upon impact and said he died on the scene.

It was at that point the SAO said Tomica continued to drive away at "a high rate of speed." But, a Good Samaritan who saw the crash followed Tomica's Charger trying to get her to stop.

According to the motion, Tomica tried to evade the Good Samaritan by making U-turns to try and lose the car following her. The Good Samaritan pulled along side Tomica trying to get her to stop, but she refused.

The Good Samaritan had called 911 while pursuing the Charger and when the car arrived at her home on Collins Avenue, Tomica allegedly exited "the battered, bloody and flesh smattered vehicle," and continued to ignore pleas to wait for the police.

When Miami Beach Police found Tomica, they said "brain or flesh particulate was apparent in her hair," and, "displayed indicia of impairment, as well as an odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage."

In addition, it was learned in court Friday that Tomica had a fake identification on her at the time of the accident, according to prosecutors.

Blood was taken two hours after impact and then an hour later. The toxicology reports put the blood alcohol level at .225 and then an hour later of .208, well above the legal limit, according to the SAO's motion.

Miami Beach Police said when Tomica was at the police station, she "fell asleep and began to loudly snore."

Riccioletti's widow, Patrizia Pesce, wants Tomica to face justice.

"She needs to feel the pain that we are feeling. She really hit him hard. And she destroyed him. It wasn't easy to see him like that," said Pesce.

The Riccioletti family has filed multiple lawsuits stemming from the crash. Pesce is working with attorney Jose Baez on the civil litigation against Tomica, Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts, Penrod Brothers, and Nikki Beach Special Events, who were all listed as defendants.

Riccioletti's oldest son has also filed a separate lawsuit which claims the management at Nikki Beach club allowed Tomica to drink alcohol while on the job as a bartender even though she is underage.

Tomica's attorney, Mark Shapiro, issued a statement saying, "Ms. Tomica and her entire family are heartbroken over this tragic accident. Their thoughts and prayers are with the Riccioletti family."

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