Trial Rescheduled In Slidell Hit And Run Death Of 6 Year Old Jeremiah Ramirez

SLIDELL, La. — More than a year after 6 year old Jeremiah Ramirez was struck and killed while riding his scooter in the driveway of his Slidell area home, the woman accused in his death is now scheduled to stand trial on November 9 after a previously scheduled September 14 jury trial was canceled.

Court records show Connie Estes, 40, of Slidell, is scheduled for a pretrial conference on October 19 at 9 a.m., followed by a jury trial on November 9 at 9 a.m. before Judge Alan M. Black in Division A.

Estes is charged with hit and run driving resulting in death and obstruction of justice.

The case has drawn significant attention across St. Tammany Parish, not only because of Jeremiah’s death, but because another man was initially arrested and accused before investigators later determined his vehicle was not responsible.

The investigation ultimately shifted to Estes after authorities obtained additional evidence, including neighborhood surveillance video showing a damaged silver Nissan Armada leaving the area shortly after Jeremiah was struck.

Jeremiah Ramirez Killed Outside His Home

The case began on August 13, 2025.

Jeremiah was riding his scooter in the driveway of his Slidell area home when he was struck by a vehicle.

His mother rushed him to a hospital, but the 6 year old later died from his injuries.

Jeremiah’s death immediately launched an investigation into who was driving the vehicle that struck him.

But what followed became an unusually complicated investigation.

Another Man Was Initially Arrested

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators initially arrested Slidell area resident Cody Beaudette in connection with Jeremiah’s death.

Beaudette was accused of vehicular homicide, but the investigation later changed dramatically as additional evidence emerged.

Investigators ultimately determined that Beaudette’s vehicle was not the vehicle responsible for striking Jeremiah.

The vehicular homicide accusation against him was dropped.

Authorities then focused on a different vehicle.

Neighborhood surveillance footage captured a silver Nissan Armada with front end damage leaving the neighborhood minutes after the crash.

That evidence became a critical part of the investigation that eventually led authorities to Estes.

Damaged SUV Became Focus Of Investigation

Investigators identified Estes as a suspect, and she was arrested on August 29, 2025, 16 days after Jeremiah’s death.

Additional details about the vehicle emerged in the months that followed.

A Slidell area mechanic told local media that Estes contacted him about inspecting her SUV following the crash and brought the vehicle to his shop the next day.

The mechanic said the SUV had damage to its bumper and sunroof. He said that after lifting the vehicle, he noticed what he believed could be evidence and contacted law enforcement.

Authorities ultimately seized the vehicle as part of the investigation.

Grand Jury Indicts Estes

On October 22, 2025, a St. Tammany Parish grand jury indicted Estes on two charges.

She was charged with hit and run driving resulting in death and obstruction of justice.

The St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office announced the indictment several days later.

Detective Katie Robbins with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office headed the investigation, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Assistant District Attorneys Doug Freese and Caroline Barkerding presented the case to the grand jury.

Estes appeared in court in November and pleaded not guilty.

The case was initially scheduled to reach trial earlier in 2026, but it was delayed as the defense sought additional time to gather evidence.

A jury trial was later scheduled for September 14, 2026, but current court records show that trial date was canceled.

The case is now scheduled for a pretrial conference on October 19 at 9 a.m., followed by a jury trial on November 9 at 9 a.m.

Wrongful Arrest Leads To Federal Lawsuit

The criminal case against Estes is not the only legal proceeding that resulted from Jeremiah’s death.

Beaudette has filed a federal lawsuit over his initial arrest.

The lawsuit names former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith and members of the Sheriff’s Office and alleges false arrest and imprisonment, excessive force and other violations.

Beaudette has said the experience caused lasting financial and personal consequences for him and his family.

His attorneys have also raised questions about how investigators handled evidence during the early stages of the case.

The Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the pending federal lawsuit when it was filed.

The lawsuit is separate from the criminal prosecution of Estes, but it has added another layer to a case that has already received significant attention across the Northshore.

Case Now Heads Toward November Trial

More than 13 months after Jeremiah was killed, the criminal case is now scheduled to move into its next major stage.

If the current schedule holds, Estes will appear for a pretrial conference on October 19 before the November 9 jury trial.

The trial could provide the public with a more detailed look at the evidence prosecutors believe connects Estes to the vehicle that struck Jeremiah, as well as the circumstances surrounding the obstruction of justice charge.

It could also provide additional information about how investigators moved from their initial suspect to Estes.

For Jeremiah’s family, however, the case ultimately remains about the loss of a 6 year old child.

His mother, Rosario Ramirez, has previously spoken publicly about the difficulty of losing her son and her desire to see justice in his case.

Estes has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

TRH News will continue following the case as it moves through court and will provide updates as new information becomes available.