Watch: Viral Rant Brings New Attention to Death of Green Beret

The Miami Herald interviewed Socolov after the incident, reporting that she was unapologetic about her actions; “Oh well, f— them. Democrats,” she said to a reporter from the Herald.

Socolov is now saying she is being “persecuted.”

But the media missed the big picture: Socolov is clearly a disturbed woman who should be held accountable for killing decorated Green Beret Richard Flaherty in a 2015 hit-and-run accident in Miami.

In 2015, Socolov left work and drove home, apparently under the influence. On her way home, she struck a pedestrian and left the scene without calling the police or reporting the incident. She did manage to call her insurance agency, though.

The pedestrian was former Green Beret Richard Flaherty. Flaherty, 4′ 9″, who had the distinction of being the smallest person to have ever served in the special operations, did two tours with U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam. During his time in uniform, he was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.

After his service in the Army, Flaherty joined the CIA. He worked in South America in support of the Nicaraguan Contras. Flaherty eventually worked undercover for the ATF in an effort to stop the flow of cocaine and weapons in the Fort Bragg, NC area. But a failed relationship, an assortment of jobs, and later the death of a fiancé devastated him and eventually left him homeless, living on the streets of Miami.

Flaherty was known by many in the Miami area where he resided, including many police officers and first responders. One such officer was David Yuzuk. Yuzuk and Flaherty grew close through an unlikely friendship that lasted more than 15 years.

It was only after Flaherty’s death that Yuzuk discovered his complete history — including his service as a Green Beret and with the CIA — by cleaning out a storage unit that belonged to him.

Moved by his story and by their friendship, Yuzuk began investigating the circumstances of Flaherty’s death. In the end, Yuzuk’s detective work led him to one conclusion: Leslie Socolov was under the influence that night and struck Flaherty with her car. She left Flaherty to die alone on a nondescript piece of pavement. Curiously, Socolov was never arrested or charged.

The video below shows a portion of Yuzuk’s investigative documentary about Flaherty and his death.