{"id":953480,"date":"2026-07-23T06:52:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T06:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/953480\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T06:52:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T06:52:17","slug":"mother-of-17-year-old-killed-in-crash-on-sw-military-drive-speaks-out-after-suspects-bond-reduced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/953480\/","title":{"rendered":"Mother of 17-year-old killed in crash on SW Military Drive speaks out after suspect\u2019s bond reduced"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 Nearly a month after 17-year-old Moncerrat \u201cMonce\u201d Martinez Maldonado was struck and killed while walking home from work, her mother is demanding answers after the suspected driver received a reduced bond.<\/p>\n

During a hearing on Monday, a judge cut down 19-year-old Vynzell Edward McGarity\u2019s bond from $100,000 to $50,000. He was charged with reckless driving and racing on a highway causing serious bodily injury for the June 28 crash.<\/p>\n

San Antonio police said McGarity was traveling eastbound on Southwest Military Drive, near Mango Avenue, in a Dodge Charger at a high rate of speed.<\/p>\n

McGarity switched lanes and struck Maldonado as she attempted to cross the street, according to a police report.<\/p>\n

McGarity is required to be on full house arrest, submit to random drug and alcohol testing, and cannot drive or be in possession of a firearm. <\/p>\n

Sandra Maldonado, Monce\u2019s mother, said her daughter was more than a victim in a deadly crash. She was a high school senior with plans to become a nurse, someone who loved animals and looked for ways to help others.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a really cheerful girl. She would take food from her job and give it to people living on the street,\u201d Maldonado told KSAT in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Monce worked at El Pollo Loco on Southwest Military Drive when she was killed. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe still played with toys,\u201d Maldonado said. \u201cShe was just a girl, and he took that from her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maldonado said she knew something was wrong the night Monce didn\u2019t come home.<\/p>\n

Instead of receiving a phone call, she got into her vehicle and drove to the restaurant where her daughter worked. She searched the parking lot, drove through the drive-thru and called out Monce\u2019s name. As she continued searching, Maldonado\u2019s older daughter mentioned hearing reports about a fatal crash nearby. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy daughter said, \u2018Mama, it\u2019s Monce,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cI yelled at her, \u2018Don\u2019t tell me that. That\u2019s not my daughter. I\u2019m going to wait for the police.\u2019 I went outside and sat on the sidewalk waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maldonado said she later learned the victim was her daughter. <\/p>\n

Since learning of McGarity\u2019s bond reduction, Maldonado said it has been difficult news to accept.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was on her way home, and because of his recklessness, he killed her,\u201d Maldonado said. \u201cHe still can go home, he can sleep in his bed. He can watch television. He can hug his mom. My Monce can\u2019t do any of that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family\u2019s attorney, Anthony Alcoser, criticized both the bond reduction and what he said was a lack of communication with the family before the hearing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s even more concerning is that no one from the DA\u2019s office or the Victim Advocate Office notified my client about this hearing,\u201d Alcoser said.<\/p>\n

Alcoser also questioned whether the conditions of McGarity\u2019s release adequately protect the public.<\/p>\n

\u201cReducing this bond for this individual who had prior records for racing. Yes, he\u2019s on an ankle monitor, he\u2019s in a house, but that\u2019s not stopping him from getting in the car and racing again. After the court\u2019s actions yesterday, the streets are unsafer tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Court records also show this was not McGarity\u2019s first encounter with law enforcement involving his driving.<\/p>\n

In March, San Antonio police arrested McGarity on a reckless driving charge after an officer reported seeing his vehicle fishtail while accelerating through the intersection of Bowie Street and East Commerce Street. <\/p>\n

The report stated officers found a speeding ticket in McGarity\u2019s pocket that had been issued the day before. The citation alleged he was driving 90 mph in a 70 mph zone.<\/p>\n

Maldonado said nothing will bring her daughter back, but she hopes her story will ensure Monce is remembered for who she was rather than only how she died.<\/p>\n

She described the pain of losing an only child she raised as a single mother, saying Monce still slept beside her and had a future ahead of her. Now, she said, her focus is on seeking justice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t stop until there is justice for my daughter,\u201d Maldonado told KSAT. \u201cI know they are not going to bring her back, but I don\u2019t want her death to go without justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alcoser said the family is offering a $2,500 cash reward for information about the other vehicles police believe were racing with McGarity the night Monce was killed.<\/p>\n

Previous coverage of this story on KSAT:<\/b><\/p>\n