GUILTY GA - Nancy Salado-Mayo, 30, killed, 6yo injured by suicidal driver, 4 Oct 2006

[KatK]

Someone who purports to have known Louise has posted a very interesting comment to Steve Huff's blog entry on the case, at crimeblog.US. (Titled LouLou the Beast) If true, it begins to paint a very different picture than what some would like to believe.

 

[misterallgood]

Someone who purports to have known Louise has posted a very interesting comment to Steve Huff's blog entry on the case, at crimeblog.US. (Titled LouLou the Beast) If true, it begins to paint a very different picture than what some would like to believe.

Thank you, KatK. The comment has one very questionable statement in it, but I went ahead and let it go. Others, just be warned that it is a little offensive.

Steve

 

[Trino]

Just been hanging in here with your very informative comments and have taught teens for years. Here's my take on the average 16-17 year old.

FOR THE MOST PART, teens are in the "I" part of life. Even in wording of events, etc., the most often used word is "I." Most teens rarely think beyond an event, hardly consider consequences, almost never have a back-up plan, and make spur-of-the moment decisions. They are social animals, drawn to other teens and pretty much shut adults out of their lives unless they need something such as material, physical, or mental support (usually temporary).

This doesn't mean teens are bad people. They aren't malicious or bad to others. They're just spreading their wings: learning, exploring, trying to take charge of their own lives and affairs. It's a difficult time for them - lots of social and academic pressures, perhaps even family problems.

I can readily see this teenage girl thinking only of herself and her relationships, not necessarily suicidal, but never considering, "What if..." Unfortunately, her maturing process took the life of another person.

 

[White Rain]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13122811/detail.html

ATLANTA -- A Fulton County grand jury has indicted a 16-year-old girl who authorities said failed in a suicide attempt that resulted in a road death.

Louise Egan Brunstad was charged with six counts -- including felony murder -- in the October death of 30-year-old Nancy Salado-Mayo.

At the time, District Attorney Paul Howard noted that Brunstad was text messaging her intent to kill herself after another female student at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School refused to have sex with her.

The girl also is charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and speeding.

Salado-Mayo's six-year-old daughter was injured in the wreck.

The indictment alleges that Brunstad crossed the center line and struck the other car intentionally to kill herself.

Brunstad will be arraigned May 4th. Her attorney, Drew Findling, issued a statement saying that for a tenth grader involved in a car accident with no alcohol or drugs involved to be prosecuted as an adult on a murder charge furthers the tragedy for all involved.

 

[MeoW333]

It sounds as if Louise did this impusively since the other girl wouldn't respond to her texts. I don't understand how someone could get so obsessed over someone they weren't even involved with..
My prayers to Nancy's family and her little girl.

 

[Masterj]

I was wondering about this story.

 

[southcitymom]

Louise was indicted by an Atlanta grand jury yesterday:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/04/25/0425brunstad.html

I actually can relate well to obsessive teen love. Prayers for all touched by this tragedy.

 

[Belinda]

I have not found any evidence of a trial or plea deal in this case. I sent an email to the prosecutors office this morning asking for the status. Will post if I get a response.

 

[oh_gal]

One doesn't attempt a suicide driving a Mercedes with front and side airbags whilst wearing a seatbelt. She didn't even manage to finish her "countdown" in her text message. I think she was driven to distraction, lost control of her emotions and her car, and perhaps accidentally drove into incoming traffic. Like a petulant child who storms out of the house wishing everyone dead, they usually don't really mean it.

(bbm)
Perhaps they don't mean it a day later, but at that instant, they do.

This was a selfish act that has permanently affected an innocent family.

 

[southcitymom]

Thanks Belinda. I followed this case very closely and there has been no public information released in quite some time. I believe, based on the family, that the young lady has probably made a plea and that any civil lawsuit will be settled without much publicity and fanfare.

I hope all of the people involved in this sad, sad accident are healing.

 

[southcitymom]

I just found this published in the AJC at the end of last year - no trial date as of yet:

http://www.ajc.com/news/q-whatever-happened-with-261303.html

 

[OkieGranny]

From May 2011:

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/suicidal-teen-sentenced-to-three-years-for-killing/nQtSM/

On April 27 of this year, Brunstad, now 20, began her three-year prison sentence at Arrendale State Prison. She pleaded guilty April 1 to first degree vehicular homicide, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and speeding...

Brunstad was sentenced under Georgia’s First Offender Act, meaning the public record of her crime will be erased if she completes her prison sentence and another 12 years probation and enrolls in a mental health program.