The man accused of fatally striking featherweight boxer Hannah Rapp while she was cycling on a Texas highway has a documented history of reckless behavior behind the wheel, including previous arrests for reckless driving and a hit-and-run. Charles Eric Medina, 31, was arrested on manslaughter charges following the incident on Saturday in Brazos County.
According to an affidavit, Medina was driving on a two-lane highway when he allegedly sped past Rapp and her boyfriend, Will Pollalis, with minimal clearance. Pollalis reportedly reacted by gesturing toward the vehicle. Authorities allege that Medina then slammed on his brakes, stopped, and reversed his car into Rapp, knocking her from her bicycle. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Medina, who resides near the location of the crash, has a criminal record in Brazos County dating back to 2012, with at least 13 previous arrests. These include charges for reckless driving and evading arrest with a vehicle in 2012, for which he pleaded guilty. Additional arrests include reckless driving in 2014, a hit-and-run in 2020, and most recently, charges for discharging a firearm and evading arrest in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The two most recent cases remain open.
Court records also indicate that Medina was previously ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond for the manslaughter charges related to Rapp's death. While Medina claimed he was reversing slowly to speak with Pollalis, investigators allege that the damage to his vehicle indicated a significant impact, consistent with sudden braking and reversing into Rapp.
Rapp, 26, was an up-and-coming featherweight boxer from Bryan, Texas. She had previously competed in track at Purdue University before transitioning to boxing. She also worked as a fire and life safety inspector at Texas A&M. A fundraiser established for Rapp's loved ones had raised over $22,000 as of Monday evening, with organizers remembering her as resilient, brave, and an inspiration who brought love and laughter into the lives of others.