Wilmington Man Hit With $31M Bond after prosecutors say he struck a 9-year-old child, severed the child’s leg, and attempted to flee the scene.
WILMINGTON, N.C. — A Wilmington man accused of plowing into a 9-year-old child and running from the scene — leaving the child with catastrophic injuries — faced a judge for the first time Monday.
Authorities say Theodore Gause, 51, is responsible for a violent crash that happened just after 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, along South 15th Street.
According to investigators, Gause crossed the centerline, veered off the road, and slammed into a child who was riding a bicycle in their own driveway before crashing into a retaining wall.
Prosecutors revealed in court that the child’s leg was completely severed during the crash. The victim also suffered a head laceration and a fractured tailbone.
Police say Gause got out of the vehicle — and ran.
Witnesses stepped in, and when Gause allegedly tried to flee again after realizing he had hit a child, a civilian physically restrained him until officers arrived.
“Thought It Was a Curb”
During the hearing, prosecutors said Gause initially told investigators he believed he had hit a curb. But once he realized it was a child, he allegedly attempted to run again.
Hospital testing later revealed Gause allegedly had benzodiazepines, cocaine, and opiates in his system at the time of the crash.
Prosecutors didn’t hold back when arguing bond.
They pointed to Gause’s record, which includes three prior hit-and-run cases along with multiple failures to appear in court. Based on that history, they labeled him a serious public safety risk.
A judge set Gause’s bond at $31 million.
Gause has since been appointed a public defender as he face multiple serious charges including:
- Felony hit-and-run
- Felony serious injury by vehicle
- Driving while impaired
- Additional traffic-related offenses
He is scheduled to return to court on May 7 at 9 a.m.
