Arrest Made in Fatal New Paltz Hit and Run
The Ulster County Sheriff's Office held a press conference today to announce an arrest in the fatal hit and run that resulted in the death of a State University of New Paltz Student in late January of this year. Raymond Rattray's body was discovered approximately 20 feet off the road on Route 208 on January 24, 2024.
The discovery of Raymond Rattray's body led to an investigation which is still ongoing but at this point, the Ulster County Sheriff's Office was ready to announce to the public that they had made an arrest.
The announcement was made Monday, March 26th around 1 PM on the Campus of SUNY New Paltz.
Arrest Announced in a Fatal Hit and Run Involving SUNY New Paltz Student
The Ulster County Sheriff's office held a live-streamed press conference today to announce the arrest in connection with the fatal hit and run that killed SUNY New Paltz student Raymond Rattray.
According to the report Raymond had been reported missing by his Mom early on January 24, 2024. It is believed the fatal hit and run allegedly occurred the evening before on January 23, 2024.
Sadly, Raymond was discovered a few hours after he was reported missing on January 24, 2024. His body was located approximately 20 feet off the road, Route 208 in a wooded area.
Raymond was believed to have been walking home from Campus when he was allegedly struck by a 2018 Honda Civic operated by Gardiner resident Ty Kolbelt.
The Ulster County Sheriff's Office press release says that officers were able to identify and locate the vehicle involved within the first 15 hours of the investigation. It was also learned that steps had been taken to conceal the damage to the car.
Ty Kolbelt Charged in the Fatal Hit and Run of SUNY New Paltz Student
Since the discovery of Raymond's body, various law enforcement agencies have been investigating the case which led to the arrest last Friday, March 22, 2024.
In a press release issued Monday, March 25th by the Ulster County Sheriff's Department after an extensive investigation, they announced the arrest Ty Kolbelt, 33, of Gardiner, New York.
The Ulster County District Attorney’s Office obtained the indictment of Ty Kobelt from an Ulster County Grand Jury on March 21st for his connection with a fatal hit-and-run which resulted in the death of 22-year-old SUNY New Paltz student Raymond Rattray in January. (Ulster County Sheriff's office via Facebook)
Ty Kolbelt Charged in the Fatal Hit and Run of SUNY New Paltz Student
Ty Kolbelt has been charged with felonies that include: Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death.
He was arraigned Monday, March 25th before the Honorable Bryan Rounds and was remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail, $500,000 bond, or a $750,000 partially secured bond.
Raymond had been a member of the SUNY New Paltz Men's Rugby Club. He was a philosophy major and an Education Opportunity Program Student. He also had numerous friends on campus.
In the days following his death students, faculty and staff set up a memorial site on campus near Gunk Pond.
Officials at the press conference also explained how the county and law enforcement is taking the recent number of hit-and-runs in the county seriously and a task force is being set up to look into how these unnecessary deaths can be prevented.
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