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Man accused of stealing from dying friend now a fugitive

Posted at 7:10 PM, Dec 03, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-04 10:04:18-05

There are new details in a NewsChannel 3 investigation into the death of 21-year-old Chris Pardee.

His friend was supposed to go on trial on Tuesday for stealing Chris’ expensive camera, but now that friend is a fugitive.

“I don`t want anybody else to ever go through something like this again,” says Chris’ mother, Diane.

Diane Pardee has been through a lot this year. Her son Chris died in June in what police called a car-surfing accident. But she's convinced the young friends with Chris that night aren't telling her, or police, the full story. And one of them, Erin Robertson, is charged with stealing from Chris as Chris was near death.

Today, Erin was supposed to go on trial for taking Chris' $3,000 camera and trying to pawn it. Prosecutors have video of that, and they gathering the online videos that Erin and Chris posted in the days leading up to Chris' death.

Today's camera-theft case was delayed. However, Erin was also supposed to be in court for another trial yesterday, and court clerks say he didn't show up. A judge has issued an arrest warrant. The theft case is now scheduled for next week. Diane is hoping that the trial might give her a better idea what happened that night to her only son.

Previously:
Prosecutors subpoena online videos after fatal crash
Police collect what could be compelling evidence in Beach man’s death
Beach police admit possible mistake as grieving mother seeks answers in son’s death