OLATHE, Kan. — FOX 4 first told you about the death of Christopher Willdermood last week, police say he was hit by 42- year-old Jeremy Claerhout when they were both driving in Olathe.
Claerhout was originally charged with aggravated battery, but now he’s been charged with second-degree murder, reckless driving, and driving while under the influence.
FOX 4 spoke with Willdermood’s twin brother William, who also goes by Billy, on Wednesday, who is obviously still overwhelmed with emotion. He says the new charges bring him a little closure, but he says it still doesn’t bring him his brother back.
“We just did everything together… we make each other laugh,” Billy recounted.
He said the last time he saw his twin brother alive was on New Year’s Eve. He got a call late on Sunday, January 11th, that his brother had been in a bad accident and was in critical condition.
“Within 10 minutes I was out the door to the hospital,” added Billy.
Willdermood was the victim of what police allege was a drunk driver.
“Drinking and driving, you must be punished for that,” Billy said.
According to the police report, just after 10pm on Sunday, January 11th, Willdermood was driving in the 1300 block of South Ridgeview Road in Olathe.
“I just never thought this would happen to us, I thought we would grow old, he was just getting his family together, just got married two years ago, just bought a nice house,” said Billy.
Police say his car and a pickup truck were both traveling southbound when the driver of the pickup rear-ended his car, pushing it off the road. Willdermood was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Three days later, he was pronounced dead.
“I’d die for him,” said Billy, “I wouldn’t hesitate, It’s a different kind of love I guess. It is what it is, I know God’s got his reasons, but something tells me in my heart its OK.”
According to Johnson County District Court documents, the driver of the pickup who hit Willdermood is Claerhout. He was charged with aggravated battery first. Now, he faces more charges: second-degree Murder, reckless driving, and driving while under the influence.
“I feel like he should do some time,” Billy said, “It’s not fair for him to say well I was drunk, this happened, sorry…sorry isn’t going to bring my brother back to life, but putting him away is not going to give me closure…but I would like to see some justice served.”
Billy says he and many other family members will be at Claerhout’s court date on Thursday. His brother’s wake is Thursday night and the funeral is Friday.