Visalia Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Hit-and-Run Murder
Today in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Joseph Kalashian sentenced Chaylin Funez, age 18, to 16 years to life in prison for hit- and-run murder. On December 4, 2017, a Tulare County jury found Funez guilty of second-degree murder with the special allegation of use of a deadly weapon, and hit-and- run causing death.
On May 27, 2017, Visalia Police Department officers responded to calls of a hit-and-run near Conyer and Prospect. According to witnesses, prior to the crime, Funez and her boyfriend were engaged in an argument with a third person when 35-year-old Eric Fisher, a married father of two, told them to take their fight somewhere else because they were in a family neighborhood with children present. Funez and her boyfriend cursed at Fisher, and got into Funez’s gray Toyota Camry. Fisher walked back to his house, which was across the street from the argument. Funez then made a u-turn, approached the intersection, stopped even though she had the right-of-way, and then abruptly accelerated her vehicle into Fisher who was standing on the sidewalk. Fisher was launched over and landed behind the car. Funez then reversed and hit Fisher a second time. She backed the car over Fisher, accelerated, and dragged him an entire block while his family screamed for her to stop. Funez rounded the corner and sped away afterFisher’s body dislodged from the car. Fisher died from his injuries later that evening at Kaweah Delta Hospital. Police located Funez at her home two days later and took her in to custody.
“While we hope that today’s sentence can give the Fisher family closure, a sense of peace may be more difficult to find. Mr. Fisher’s presence in their family will be dearly missed,” said District Attorney Tim Ward. “There is no greater honor than for a prosecutor to give
a voice to a victim whose life was cut short because of a senseless act of violence. This office is committed to protecting our communities and will make every effort to ensurethat the defendant spends the rest of her life in prison.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Noell Niayesh and Mitch Niayesh of the Major Crimes Division and was investigated by the Visalia Police Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Underwood (559) 636-5494