Waterford — Police charged a 74-year-old East Lyme woman with negligent homicide Thursday in connection with the hit-and-run death of a New London man in January near the Crystal Mall.

Shirley Langford of 181 Upper Pattagansett Road, East Lyme, turned herself in to Waterford police after learning of the warrant for her arrest. She is charged in the Jan. 18 death of 61-year-old Kim S. Weeks, affectionately known locally as Kenny.

Weeks was a regular at several downtown New London businesses, often starting his day with breakfast at the former First Congregational Church on Union Street. He would spend time at an auto shop on Truman Street to chat about the Yankees or go to Bank Street businesses like New London Ink, Daddy Jack's and Exchange Bar and Grill to pick up odd jobs.

Police said Weeks was struck in the area of Route 85 and Dayton Place between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 18. His body was discovered on the morning of Jan. 19, when a passerby reported a dead man lying on the ground between the roadway and the parking lot of the mall.

Langford’s arrest was the results of a monthslong investigation. But police revealed Thursday that on the morning of the discovery of Weeks' body, police had seized both Langford’s blue Toyota Sienna minivan and her Connecticut driver’s license. They also interviewed Langford. Her license was sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles for retesting and evaluation. Other items of evidence, which police did not identify, were taken for testing at the state forensic lab in Meriden.

Langford is charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, evading responsibility and failure to drive right. She was released with a promise to appear in New London Superior Court on June 5. Under state statute, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, unless it is a commercial vehicle, carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $1,000 fine. 

A Shirley S. Langford is listed as the president and chief executive officer of the Norwich-based Interim HealthCare of Eastern Connecticut.