MANTECA, Calif — October marks 12 years since a hit-and-run driver took the life of Louis Ehles, a young father, husband, son and brother of an ABC10 colleague who contributed to this story. The suspect in the case is known to police but is nowhere to be found.
Rebecca Reutenauer was surrounded by childhood photos, toy trucks and firefighting gear as she remembered her brother.
“He came over because he heard she (his sister Julie) made pumpkin pies, and then we all sat around the table... little would we have ever known that was going to be the last time we all saw each other," said Reutenauer.
A quilt stitched of fabric from Ehles' old clothes hangs on Rebecca's living room wall.
At just 22 years old, he was already a homeowner, husband and father.
“He was very driven, very hard worker, knew immediately that his role was to take good care of his daughter and his wife,” said Reutenauer.
Born and raised in France, Ehles moved with his family to Stockton where he attended the Weber Institute of Applied Science and Technology. He then took his love of learning and community service to the Montezuma Fire District.
“One of those types of individuals that you just love to be around. The rest of the crew enjoyed working with him,” said Edward Martel, fire chief of Montezuma Fire Protection District.
Ehles was a quick learner and made friends fast.
“He spent a lot of time cooking for the staff out there," said Martel. "He would do anything you'd ask him to. He really came in and did his 110%.”
But on the night of Oct. 27, 2011, many lives changed forever.
“He was completely robbed of whatever amazing life he was going to have ahead of him," said Reutenauer.
Manteca police said Ehles was riding his motorcycle on West Yosemite Avenue when the driver of a blue Dodge Dakota pickup truck hit him at El Portal Avenue and left the scene.
“For me, there was just no way that this had really happened to our family. It was just the kind of thing, you know, happens out there. But when it's never happened to you, it was just unreal, unbelievable," said Reutenauer.
More than a decade since Ehles died, his family is still waiting for justice.
The suspect, according to Manteca Police Department, is Rene Vargas Estrada.
Police issued a $250,000 warrant for his arrest, which is still active.
Investigators said witnesses and a tip led them to Estrada's house where they found the truck involved, but when they got there, Estrada was gone, possibly on his way to Mexico.
"I can’t say that if he was caught today and put in jail, I don’t know if that would make me feel better about the situation," said Reutenauer. “He just went on and continued to live his life while we will never have Louis back."
Police said Estrada would be in his mid-50s and stands at five feet tall with black hair and black eyes. He weighs around 160 pounds. If anyone knows about his whereabouts, they can call the Manteca Police Department.
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