Darren Leveroni was a high school valedictorian. In December of 1998, soon after being accepted into Princeton at age 17, he was accidentally killed by Dennis Gammill in a hit-and-run three blocks from his house. The officer investigating the crime, Leland Stottlemeyer, was deeply affected by his death and the fact that he had never been able to solve the case.
Five years later, the case was solved after the murders of Miles Holling and George Rowe, when a time capsule containing Dennis Gammill's confession was exhumed.