A Saginaw County woman is in jail accused of going on a wild Mother’s Day crime spree with her teenage daughter and niece. Detectives say they busted her thanks to the help of a Good Samaritan.
44-year-old Yolanda Leal is in the Saginaw County Jail facing 6 counts for her alleged actions on Mother’s Day. Her teenage daughter and niece are also facing charges in juvenile court.
Investigators say Leal not only went out driving drunk on Mother's Day with her 2-year-old grandson, teenage daughter, and teenage niece in the car, but drove a get-a-way car after allowing the girls to rob and attack a woman.
Their victim was a Saginaw Valley State University Chinese foreign exchange student walking home after shopping at Fashion Square Mall.
22-year-old Dong Dong says she's thankful a kind passer-by stopped to help.
“They knocked the girl down, and started hammering on her,” said William Kulow, describing what he saw before he stopped to help. When he pulled over he says the teens ran away from their victim, and jumped into Leal’s car.
Leal sped off, but Kulow followed while calling 911. A few miles later he caught up with Leal’s car, and cornered it in a parking lot.
Saginaw County Sheriff Deputies responded and arrested Leal. Detective Miguel Gomez says she admitted she had been drinking, but ironically asked for mercy.
“Her words were, ‘Are you really going to put me in jail on Mother’s day?’ My answer to her was, ‘ You really did this on Mother’s day.’”
Kulow says he hopes Dong, the student he helped doesn’t judge Americans based on the actions of Leal. Dong says he doesn’t have to worry, she’s judging Americans based on the actions of Kulow.
“I have only been in America for a short time, and this has never happened to me before,” said Dong through an interpreter. “I feel very warm inside as I realize some people can help.”
