Bail set at $750,000 for suspect in fatal August hit and run in Delco

A Delaware County man was arrested today in the August hit and run death of Sharon Hill teen, Faith Sinclair, the district attorney's office announced.

Lemuel Payne, 26, of Upper Darby, the owner of the car police believed was involved, had previously been named as a person of interest. He was charged leaving the scene of an accident, tampering with evidence and other related charged.

Payne has a history of driving under the influence. He turned himself in to investigators today.

Payne was arraigned at the Sharon Hill District Court around noon. Bail was set at $750,000 of which Payne will be required to post 10 percent before he can be released on electronic monitoring.

The families of both Payne and Sinclair were present at the brief court hearing.

The suspect showed no emotion but Sinclair's mother wept during the proceedings.

Sinclair, 16, an honor student at Ridley High School was walking with friends to a sleepover party about 10 p.m. August 3, when she stepped into the crosswalk on Chester Pike and was killed.

A black Mercedes S-Class, matching the description of the car seen leaving the scene, was found hidden in an Upper Darby garage where Payne lived. The car's grill was broken and it was missing a right-side mirror.

According to the affidavit, during a phone coversation with his supervisor at Deer Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey, Payne said he was in trouble and asked if his supervisor had seen the news about the hit and run. Payne allegedly said he "hit a girl and that she died."

In a later conversation, according to the affidavit, Payne asked the supervisor to disregard the earlier call about the accident, "and as far as they were concerned it was hear say."