A Becker man made his first court appearance Monday on charges that he was driving drunk and failed to stop and stay at the scene and render aid to his girlfriend, who he claimed jumped from the moving truck and died, according to Commander Ben Zawacki.

Johnathan James Schafer, 35, is charged with a felony of failing to stop at the scene and remain there when he had reason to believe a death had occurred. He’s also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

The passenger in his vehicle, Julia Marie Marthaler, 23, of Nisswa, was pronounced dead late Thursday in the 5800 block of 140th Ave. Southeast in Santiago Twp., according to Zawacki.

Sherburne County dispatchers received a 911 call at about 9:20 p.m. Thursday from a woman who said that Schafer had called her and told her that Marthaler had jumped out of the pickup truck that he was driving.

Schafer never called 911 and later told investigators that he stopped to check on Marthaler, found her non-responsive and panicked and left the scene when he saw another vehicle approaching. He drove to a park in Becker where investigators later encountered him.

Investigators detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Schafer and obtained a search warrant for a blood sample.

The investigation into Marthaler’s death is active, and additional criminal charges are possible.