Exclusive: Girlfriend of bicyclist killed speaks out

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -Western Mass News spoke exclusively with the girlfriend of Aronde Odom, the bicyclist who was killed in Springfield, following the suspect’s arraignment Monday.

No words can describe the pain the family of Aronde Odom is dealing with right now.

His girlfriend, who wished not to have her name revealed publicly at this time, says she is both angry and heartbroken and wants justice for the man she hoped to be with for the rest of her life.

“We’re all sad, that goes without saying. I have a very close relationship with his entire family, so we are all one in the same when I say that we are absolutely…we feel like our world’s just exploded.”

Many emotions running through the girlfriend of Aronde Odom, whose life was cut short late last week in Springfield’s Indian Orchard neighborhood.

The girlfriend remembering Odom, saying he loved New York City, loved life, and was “a golden retriever through and through.”

“We were together for a year, and from the first day we met, we were attached at the hip. We were absolutely inseparable. We did everything together..”

One thing Odom’s life partner says he loved a lot, was riding his bike.

“He loved riding. He has such a big riding community. He has so many friends that loved him, and this is all their passion. This is all…it’s their thing.”

A new and tragic reality sinking in for this young woman and the rest of Odom’s family after the 30-year-old was struck and killed by a 2010 Chevy Silverado shortly after 5:00 p.m. this past Thursday as he was walking his bike across the street.

the driver of that vehicle allegedly fled the scene, according to the Hampden district attorney’s office.

That suspect, Carlos Reyes, turned himself in on Friday and is currently facing numerous charges, including a felony for leaving the scene of personal injury and death and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.

Reyes made his first court appearance Monday afternoon with Odom’s girlfriend watching.

“Not only did you just hit someone, and you knew you were in the wrong. You hit someone, and you injured somebody. But you left him there. Why did you leave?” She continued to say: “You just left somebody there to die. Someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s life partner.”

Odom’s partner says he needs justice and that she and his family will witness the whole process play out.

“I’m hoping that we can just get what he does deserve out of this. I don’t want this man (Reyes) to walk freely. I don’t think that’s fair. I don’t think that’s right.”

Carlos Reyes’ bail is set at $250,000 and his next court appearance is scheduled for April 29th.

Some of Odom’s friends put out a petition calling for a new skate park to be named after him as well as a GoFundMe.