Woman Crashes Car into Boyfriend after Discovering a Tampon

A domestic conflict has escalated into a murder after a Vegas woman ran over her boyfriend after finding another woman’s tampon in a garbage can. Julie Bush, 30, was charged with the murder of Richard Penardo, 51, a man who was no stranger to crime himself.

According to reports, Bush was high on fentanyl at the time of the dispute. She confronted Penardo after finding the tampon and the two began to quarrel. As the conflict escalated, Penardo grabbed a steel chain from the residence and started breaking the windows of Bush’s car.

Bush, who was in the car at the time, stepped on the gas pedal, driving the car right into her boyfriend. Penardo was smashed into the wall and injured severely. Following that, Bush reportedly drove over his body.  

Penardo was rushed to a nearby hospital. He was in critical condition and suffered from profuse brain bleeding and collapsed lungs. Despite the medical experts’ efforts, Penardo passed away on Saturday.

In the meantime, the identity of the woman who left the tampon in the garbage bin is still unknown.

Bush Was Charged for the Murder

Prior to Penardo’s passing, Bush was charged with driving under influence resulting in substantial bodily harm, domestic battery and attempted murder. The latter charge was amended to open murder following Penardo’s death.

Since the police found bags of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Bush’s car, she was also charged with possession of drugs.

Bush was apprehended and denied bail by Judge Daniel Westmeyer. However, she never appeared before the judge because of an unspecified medical condition.

Authorities learned that Bush and Penardo had been dating for over a year. They also learned that Penardo is no stranger to crime himself and had been previously imprisoned. Among other things, his past charges include conspiracy to commit murder. In 2008, according to documents, Penardo and two women got rid of the corpse of Maria Marino, a woman who was murdered by strangulation. For context, Penardo and his accomplices left the body on Mt. Charleston.

Penardo also previously served a sentence for insurance fraud.