Suspect in New Year’s Day Crash That Killed Mother and Daughter Released From Jail

Jojo Gardner, 33, and her daughter Payton Castillo, 9, were killed driving home from a New Year's Eve party after a suspected drunk driver triggered a four-car crash in California early on Jan. 1, 2019. Funeral And Memorial for Jojo and Payton Castillo/GoFundMe

The suspect who was arrested after a New Year’s Day crash that left a mother and daughter dead was released on Jan. 3, because prosecutors said there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with a crime.

Melvin Branch, 30, walked out of the Santa Ana Jail on Thursday with his shirt wrapped around his head, reported CBS LA.