NASCAR driver Kevin Conway appears to have helped Chicago police close a four-year-old cold case.
David McCarthy, 27, allegedly confessed to the sister of a woman who was struck and killed by a car in 2008 that he was driving. According to local ABC affiliate WLS-TV, the sister said the man arrived at her house Sunday to clear his conscience.
Conway had posted a picture of Melissa Lech on his race car last summer in hopes of drumming up new leads.
McCarthy reportedly told the sister that he came forward because of "the NASCAR thing."
McCarthy is being held in lieu of $1 million bail for the then-20-year-old woman's death.
Will County prosecutors say McCarthy told Michelle Lech he stopped after striking her sister. But he drove off after others arrived at the scene in Joliet, even though he knew the woman was seriously hurt.
After he allegedly confessed, Michelle Lech said, McCarthy told them he wasn't going to police. However, the Lechs got his license plate number and police later arrested McCarthy at his Naperville home.
Assistant State's Attorney Mary Fillipitch said McCarthy told authorities he came forward to unburden himself.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
