DA: Hit-and-Run Suspect Hid Damaged Car in Parents' Back Yard

According to the District Attorney's office, a man who pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in relation to the hit-and-run crash that led to the death of a Coram woman hid his vehicle in his parents' backyard, reportedly telling them the blood on the car and broken windshield came from an incident at a Patchogue nightclub.

But in fact, they said, the blood on the car proved to be a DNA match to that of hit-and-run victim Karen Benjamin.

Authorities said at the time they were searching for a 2000 to 2003 BMW sedan, and detectives with the Suffolk County Police Department's Vehicle Crimes Unit later found one, according to the D.A., against a fence in the back yard of Costa's parents.

“The detectives learned from the defendant’s parents that he showed up at their house with the damaged BMW approximately 18 minutes after the crash, and that their son lied to them, explaining that the car was vandalized while he was in a Patchogue night club,” District Attorney Thomas Spota said in a statement.

The crash occurred on June 23 on Canal Road in Mt. Sinai around 11 a.m. Coram resident Karen Benjamin was out for a jog when she was struck just west of Route 83, sustaining head trauma that later required brain surgery. She died on July 17.

Costa, a 31-year-old Coram resident, is charged with a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident without reporting, as well as a vehicle and traffic violation for speeding. It's not clear if more charges will be forthcoming. In the meantime, Costa remains held without bail and is due back in court on Aug. 6.

According to Newsday, Costa was apprehended on Wednesday while he was in custody for a reported parole violation.

Authorities said that when the car was found, the windshield was smashed, there was blood spattered on the car itself, and the side view mirror was missing.