NEW PALTZ – A 33-year-old Gardiner man has been indicted, arrested, and arraigned for the death of 22-year-old SUNY New Paltz student Raymond Rattray, who was struck and killed as he walked home from class on January 23, 2024. Following an extensive investigation, Tyler “Ty” Kobelt was indicted by the Ulster County Grand Jury on Thursday, March 21, and arrested on Friday, March 22, 2024.
He was arraigned earlier today (Monday) on the felonies of manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident, and tampering with physical evidence. Following arraignment, Kobelt was remanded to the Ulster County Jail on $250,000 cash bail, $500,000 bond, or $750,000 partially-secured bond.
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa was joined by members of his staff, Ulster County DA Emmanuel Nneji, County Executive Jen Metzger, and SUNY New Paltz representatives in making the announcement Monday on the campus where Rattray attended college as a fifth-year junior.
Raymond Rattray a resident of New York City, was walking to his off-campus home after class on January 23. He was on the shoulder of Route 208 when investigators say he was struck and killed by Kobelt. Rattray was thrown 20 feet from the point of impact, landing in a wooded area, while Kobelt continued driving south with his car damaged by the collision.
Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a body found in a wooded area alongside Route 208 between Hawk Drive and Cross Creek Road at 1:16 p.m. the following day and discovered the student’s body a short time later.
Sheriff Figueroa called Kobelt’s decision to drive away “a lack of respect for human life.”
There have been four pedestrians killed in hit-and-run accidents in recent Ulster County history and efforts are underway to prevent the tragedies, according to County Executive Jen Metzger.
