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A notorious repeat offender in Tennessee has been taken into custody after a fatal incident involving a stolen vehicle. The suspect, Ray Eugene Padgett, 52, is alleged to have commandeered a pickup truck, subsequently leading police on a high-speed chase. This pursuit tragically concluded when Padgett crashed into another vehicle, resulting in the death of its driver, a young woman aged 23.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has identified the victim as Oluwalayomi Fadero. In light of this incident, Padgett faces serious charges including criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide by recklessness. These charges reflect the gravity of the accident that claimed Fadero’s life.
Furthermore, Padgett is also facing additional legal challenges, being charged with felony reckless endangerment, attempted criminal homicide, and operating a vehicle with a revoked license. His actions have highlighted concerns over his criminal history and the implications of his parole status.
Prior to this tragic event, Padgett was already on parole, with a record that includes over 20 criminal convictions spread across five counties in Tennessee. This history casts a shadow on his recent actions and the leniency of the criminal justice system concerning repeat offenders.
Currently, Ray Eugene Padgett is being held on charges that include criminally negligent homicide and vehicular homicide by recklessness, with his bond set at $805,000. His arrest and subsequent charges serve as a reminder of the dangers posed by repeat offenders and the tragic consequences of their actions on innocent lives. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department continues its investigation into this harrowing incident.
Padgett, police say, is suspected of stealing the pickup truck from a Nashville car lot on Friday, March 20.
The owner of the lot was able to track the truck to an alley off St. Louis Street in North Nashville, police said. Authorities say that the owner of the lot followed Padgett and spotted the stolen F-250.
Padgett allegedly put the truck in reverse and rammed the vehicle the owner was in before fleeing. Charges related to those occurrences are anticipated, police noted.
Oluwalayomi Fadero, an aspiring nurse, was remembered as a dedicated student. (UTC College of Nursing/Facebook)
Padgett kept driving in the stolen vehicle and, according to WSMV, a second ramming occurred as police began tracking the stolen truck via helicopter.
“The intention at that point is to keep an eye on the truck until it finally stops, have ground units move in, and take the man into custody,” MNPD Public Information Officer Don Aaron told the local outlet.
Police said that the driver spotted an unmarked police car in the median and rammed it before leading authorities on an approximately 5-minute car chase.
The chase ended around 2:30 p.m. when Padgett crossed into oncoming traffic and Oluwalayomi Fadero’s white Hyundai Elantra, pushing them about 100 yards into a ditch, police said.
Fadero was pronounced dead at the scene.
Oluwalayomi Fadero was weeks away from completing her nursing degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga when she was killed. (GoFundMe)
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s College of Nursing remembered Fadero as “a valued member of the August 2026 cohort” who was in the college’s accelerated nursing school.Â
“She brought light to those around her through her kindness, generosity, beautiful smile, and genuine passion for helping others,” they said.
A GoFundMe for Fadero says she was turning onto the road where she lived when she was killed.
“She was simply on her way home, and her dog Nala was with her in the car,” the fundraiser said, adding that “miraculously, Nala survived the crash and was reunited with Oluwalayomi’s loved ones.”
“The loss of Oluwalayomi has left a deep void in the hearts of everyone who knew her,” it said.
Fadero was set to complete a nursing degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in August.
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