KALKASKA COUNTY - The parents of a victim killed in a crash this summer, sharing their feelings after the man who police say crashed the car was finally caught and put in jail.
“This is the result. Somebody loses a family member. And it’s not easy. It’s really not easy,” shares the victim, Timothy Alberts’ parents.
Cody Hockridge faced formal charges in Kalkaska County Court Today. He’s accused of crashing a car and killing his passenger, Timothy Alberts, and then spending six months on the run. Hockridge was finally found this past weekend hiding under floorboards at a home in Mancelona.
“What was it like to see Cody walk in the room? Are there any thoughts or feelings?”
“Sadness. Sadness because his family is intertwined with mine and anger that my child is gone. My granddaughter will never know her dad and that he can see his kid in pictures,” explains Janeine Alberts, Timothy Alberts’ mother.
The parents of timothy Alberts breathing a little easier, knowing the man accused of driving the car their son was killed in. Is now in jail.
“I wish I would have never introduced his parents to another and this was a bad outcome from. If I would, you know, introduced him, maybe I’d still have my son,” says Robert, Timothy Alberts’ father.
Police say Cody Hockridge crashed a car into a semi-truck back in July on US-131 and Twin Lake road in Kalkaska county. His passenger, Timothy Alberts was killed, and Hockridge would spend more than 6 months on the run.
“There’s concerns with your the nature of the charges, your criminal history, the fact that you’re a flight risk aggravating, the police on these charges. And there are, concerns about the willingness to appear in court in the future. So, I think for all of those reasons, a high bond is definitely warranted to assure your appearance in court for public safety,” says Judge Lynne M. Buday.
Hockridge’s bond was set at $1 million. He was charged Wednesday with operating with high blood alcohol content, causing death. He has a prior conviction and was also charged with being a habitual offender 3rd offense and could face up to 40 years in prison, if convicted. The Alberts say they couldn’t of made it this far after losing their son without lots of support.
“We just want to send all of our love and thanks to our community. Nikki, the crime victim advocate Regan, every officer that took time away from their families after hours. They’ve been in contact with us when they should be home with their families we cannot thank any of them enough. Our gratitude is beyond what you can imagine. It’s really heartfelt to know that they had our backs,” says Janeine.
While they are thankful for the support they still are grieving and struggle with what happened every day.
The journey isn’t over, but the family is choosing to keep timothy’s spirit alive for them and his daughter.
“I want Halloween to be very, very special for her. That was his favorite holiday. So we’re going to make sure that we really do a Halloween. And for his two nephews, because that was their holiday with him,” shares Janeine.