Brother of Rehobeth man killed in hit-and-run speaks out; suspect charged with murder
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN) — Robert Arriaga is at a loss for words after his younger brother, Michael Arriaga was killed in a hit-and-run Friday morning.
He was just with his brother two days before he was killed — little did he know it would be his last time spending life with him.
“I don’t think anybody expects anybody to die within this age range but for them to be murdered or hit by a car I guess it was just surreal,” Arriaga said. “I mean it’s like a dream.”
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has charged Philip Matthew Deal with felony murder in the death of Arriaga .
The sheriff’s office says the two who knew each other, got into a verbal argument in front of Arriaga’s child’s mother’s home on Hadden Road. The argument escalated turning deadly and that’s when law enforcement said Deal got into his Tahoe SUV, hit Arriaga in the yard, and then drove off through the woods. After searching the surrounding area, he was found off Johnny Murphy Road where the suspect lived.
The sheriff’s office has not said what the argument was about and his brother is not sure either.
“I assume because Michael was over there and the guy was a hot head and from what I hear he’s not all the way there due to drug-related things,” His brother said.
His brother says no matter what the argument was about it shouldn’t have ended in a death.
“Even if it’s over a female is it worth any of this on both sides?” He said. “You have to spend the rest of your life in prison.”
Arriaga says his brother Mike was the life of the party and was never in a down mood.
He was a young father of a four-year-old boy, well-liked and easy to get along with — that’s why this news was a blow to the family.
“For this to happen to him my brother or really anyone it just sucks,” He said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to remember Mike Arriaga as well as help the family during a tragic time.
“Even if it is a dime, penny or a dollar anything can help,” He added.
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