MILLE LACS, Minn. — One year after the death of a beloved central Minnesota doctor, her family is pleading for justice.
Dr. Cathy Ann Donovan was struck by a vehicle and killed as the 56-year-old walked her dogs along Highway 169 near her home just outside Onamia, Minnesota, on Nov. 13, 2023.
The area where Donovan was hit is fairly remote, meaning there is no description of the vehicle involved, but law enforcement asked residents to watch for vehicles with "significant front-end damage."
At one point investigators believed a Twin Cities resident who owns a Tesla was involved in the fatal hit-and-run, but charges were never filed and eventually authorities said that driver had been ruled out as a suspect.
During a press conference with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday on the anniversary of her death, Donovan's family expressed their continuing grief and anger that the person who killed her has not come forward.
"Cathy wasn’t killed by a good person," said Donovan's sister Christy Pemberton. "She was killed by someone who thinks their life is more important than hers. Someone who believes their comfort is more important than our closure. Someone who believes in themself more than justice. Someone who considers themself above the law. Someone who thinks they are too important or too valuable to face the consequences of their actions."
Donovan - who worked at Mille Lacs Health System - was known by colleagues for her "strong and compassionate" leadership. She is survived by two adult children, her sisters and parents, and her rescue pets.
"If they can conceal taking a life - they can conceal anything," Pemberton insisted. "They cannot be trusted as a spouse, parent, teacher, coach, advisor, neighbor, friend, co-worker, customer or boss. This person is more than a dangerous, deadly driver, they are a chameleon and they have successfully hid their actions and character for at least the past year."
The reward for a tip leading to an arrest in Donovan's death has grown to $25,000, subject to federal regulation, the family said.
Anyone with information on the fatal incident or the driver responsible is asked to contact the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office at 320-983-8346.