MI - Two children killed when drunk driver crashes into birthday party - April 21, 2024

[DeDee]

Marshella Chidester's Prelim Hearing

Evidence shows cctv with her home in view. When she's leaving her home, she reverses the vehicle into the driveway next door by smashing into the car already parked there. Then, she pulls out to turn right headed for the boat club.

Spoiler: Fair warning: video shows graphic scenes from the crime

 

[alexwood]

Marshella Chidester to stand trial for fatal Swan Boat Club crash

Marshella Chidester's BAC was .18 when she crashed through the Swan Boat Club, killing two children and seriously injuring others.

www.fox2detroit.com

 

[ilovewings]

Marshella Chidester to stand trial for fatal Swan Boat Club crash

Marshella Chidester's BAC was .18 when she crashed through the Swan Boat Club, killing two children and seriously injuring others.

www.fox2detroit.com

https://www.findlaw.com/state/michigan-law/michigan-second-degree-murder-law.html#:~:text=Second-degree%20murder%20is%20either,reckless%20d

I wanted to understand what constitutes 2nd degree murder in Michigan-
it is in part, unplanned but intentional, or a death caused by reckless disregard for life.

Sounds about right to me

 

[alexwood]

If she suffers from seizures, I would think that she would be prohibited from driving, or be very closely monitored by a doctor in order to maintain her driving privileges. Well, at any rate, they will have access to all her medical records, and driving records, at trial. [But, I don't think seizures cause your alcohol level to amp up after just one glass of wine?]

Interview with Marshella After Deadly Crash

I can’t bring myself to watch it, but they did an interview with Marshella, the woman who crashed into the boat club. Local responses to this interview have been ANGER. Seizure or not, she should really just be silent right now, IMO. She clearly wants sympathy, and nobody around here is ready to give it. I am shocked that she did this interview. It’s in very poor taste (again, JMO).

During her interview, posted above by @mewmew, with her arm in a sling and wearing an ankle monitor, it was said that she suffers from neuropathy, heart problems, and memory problems. [Yeah. It's hard to remember where the road is when your BAC is at 0.18 on the Richter scale.]

Further, in the interview she states (at 1:38): "I would never, ever, do anything intentional. Never. I mean, that's just not me. And especially to a boat club that I love so much (she's a long-time member of the Swan Boat Club). And, I have family and friends there." [Really?]

Then, she says this (at 1:56): "I think I had a seizure. I think that the same thing that my husband said that I did when I have a seizure is like, just go straight. [Sounds like this isn't her first "mishap"] I think that when I got in the car, that's what happened. I just had the seizure and probably put my foot on the accelerator and crashed into the building."

 

[ilovewings]

If she suffers from seizures, I would think that she would be prohibited from driving, or be very closely monitored by a doctor in order to maintain her driving privileges. Well, at any rate, they will have access to all her medical records, and driving records, at trial. [But, I don't think seizures cause your alcohol level to amp up after just one glass of wine?]


During her interview, posted above by @mewmew, with her arm in a sling and wearing an ankle monitor, it was said that she suffers from neuropathy, heart problems, and memory problems. [Yeah. It's hard to remember where the road is when your BAC is at 0.18 on the Richter scale.]

Further, in the interview she states (at 1:38): "I would never, ever, do anything intentional. Never. I mean, that's just not me. And especially to a boat club that I love so much (she's a long-time member of the Swan Boat Club). And, I have family and friends there." [Really?]

Then, she says this (at 1:56): "I think I had a seizure. I think that the same thing that my husband said that I did when I have a seizure is like, just go straight. [Sounds like this isn't her first "mishap"] I think that when I got in the car, that's what happened. I just had the seizure and probably put my foot on the accelerator and crashed into the building."

Her medical records will demonstrate if she has a history of seizures and if so what medications she was prescribed- there may also be a notation if in fact she has a history of alcohol abuse

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Monroe woman to stand trial in birthday party crash that killed 2 children

While she said she only drank a little bit that day, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said her blood alcohol level was more than double the legal limit at the time.

www.clickondetroit.com

BERLIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Monroe County woman will stand trial for murder after allegedly crashing into a child’s birthday party while drunk.

Marshella Chidester is accused of driving under the influence and crashing her vehicle through a child’s birthday party at the Swan Boat Club in April, killing two young children and injuring 11 other people.

A judge ruled Thursday, June 27, she will stand trial on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating under the influence of liquor causing death and four counts of operating under the influence of liquor causing serious injury...

 

[RickshawFan]

If she suffers from seizures, I would think that she would be prohibited from driving, or be very closely monitored by a doctor in order to maintain her driving privileges. Well, at any rate, they will have access to all her medical records, and driving records, at trial. [But, I don't think seizures cause your alcohol level to amp up after just one glass of wine?]


During her interview, posted above by @mewmew, with her arm in a sling and wearing an ankle monitor, it was said that she suffers from neuropathy, heart problems, and memory problems. [Yeah. It's hard to remember where the road is when your BAC is at 0.18 on the Richter scale.]

Further, in the interview she states (at 1:38): "I would never, ever, do anything intentional. Never. I mean, that's just not me. And especially to a boat club that I love so much (she's a long-time member of the Swan Boat Club). And, I have family and friends there." [Really?]

Then, she says this (at 1:56): "I think I had a seizure. I think that the same thing that my husband said that I did when I have a seizure is like, just go straight. [Sounds like this isn't her first "mishap"] I think that when I got in the car, that's what happened. I just had the seizure and probably put my foot on the accelerator and crashed into the building."

Being blitzed out of your mind can give you "seizures".

Alcohol poisoning - Symptoms and causes

www.mayoclinic.org

 

[alexwood]

Bail Set for Woman Who Crashed Into Boat Club Killing 2 Kids

"Authorities say that Chidester crashed into a children’s birthday party and killed 4-year-old Zayna Phillips and his 8-year-old sister, Alanah. Of the 13 others injured in the crash, nine were hospitalized and five remain in critical condition."

“'She took my grandbabies from us,' Kathy Phillips, the children’s grandmother, said at the Tuesday arraignment, according to the Detriot Free Press. 'She made that choice to go in that car, and she chose to drink and drive.'”

 

[alexwood]

Examining the Defense of Marshella Chidester

On YouTube by Community Advocate Network Channel
[Although the video ends abruptly, for some odd reason, and the volume level is not consistent, I think this is an excellent encapsulation of the case.]

A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Friday, 23 August 2024, at 9am.

 

[Kittybunny]

Marshella Chidester's Prelim Hearing

Evidence shows cctv with her home in view. When she's leaving her home, she reverses the vehicle into the driveway next door by smashing into the car already parked there. Then, she pulls out to turn right headed for the boat club.

Spoiler: Fair warning: video shows graphic scenes from the crime

A lot to unpack there, amidst all the chaos and horror.

First, observations about her when the deputies arrived and spoke to her. She was sitting in a chair, relatively calm. She was pretty coherent, but it’s clear when she stands up that she’s really unsteady and having trouble with her balance. She’s also clearly reluctant to be led away. The officer escorts her to the police vehicle and asks her about her medical conditions and then very quickly asks her if she had been drinking that day, which she admits to. I’m sure he immediately suspected she was intoxicated, at that BAC, he probably smelled alcohol on her.

Second, towards the end of this video, the officer who did her field sobriety tests confirms that he did smell alcohol. He also talks about the field sobriety tests. She failed 2 out of 3 verbal ones but he didn’t do any physical ones because she stated she had neuropathy so he was concerned that she might harm herself doing a one legged stand for example. The jury might rightfully discount those, but the 0.19 BAC will be hard to overcome.

The less said about her self-serving, “butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth” interview that was posted earlier, the better, except for her saying that she has no memory at all of any of the events, not even getting in her car…well of course you don’t ma’am, you were blitzed out of your mind!!!

Get thee to your local AA meeting and start working on your steps, stat!

- Advice from a recovering alcoholic going on 7 years sobriety

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Trial moves loom for Swan Boat Club driver

Marshella Chidester is facing life in prison for two counts of second-degree murder.

www.detroitnews.com

Motions in a trial in the hearing of a Monroe County woman accused of killing two children and injuring 11 by driving her car into a building have been scheduled.

Marshella Chidester, 66, of Newport, had a pre-trial hearing Friday by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Daniel White.

It was adjourned and motions will be heard on Oct. 18...

 

[alexwood]

Meanwhile, she remains free -- but, I believe she is subject to random drug/alcohol testing -- alcohol seems to be her drug of choice. Will this settle before trial? I think some of the survivors and/or victims' survivors have filed suit against her. That's as it should be.

 

[61Montcalm]

Meanwhile, she remains free -- but, I believe she is subject to random drug/alcohol testing -- alcohol seems to be her drug of choice. Will this settle before trial? I think some of the survivors and/or victims' survivors have filed suit against her. That's as it should be.

I hope that she gets a very long prison sentence. Sure she may regret her behaviour now, maybe she's a really sweet person, but it's far too late for the kids she killed and their family who are forever damaged by her inconsiderate and selfish behaviour. The State of Michigan could use her as an example in a campaign against drink driving.

 

[Rikissa]

Being blitzed out of your mind can give you "seizures".

Alcohol poisoning - Symptoms and causes

www.mayoclinic.org

in the article in post #131 it's mentioned that she has a "history of epileptic-type seizures in her legs", and that she was on medicine for them,and had been seizure-free until the crash (no mentioning of for how long). It's known that binge drinking alcohol can cause a seizure, so even if she is epileptic, and got a seizure, had she been binge drinking then it was caused by her decision to drink, and then taking the risk to drive.

Alcohol and epilepsy - Epilepsy Action

Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of having seizures for some people. This page has information about the risks of alcohol and epilepsy.

www.epilepsy.org.uk

 

[alexwood]

in the article in post #131 it's mentioned that she has a "history of epileptic-type seizures in her legs", and that she was on medicine for them,and had been seizure-free until the crash (no mentioning of for how long). It's known that binge drinking alcohol can cause a seizure, so even if she is epileptic, and got a seizure, had she been binge drinking then it was caused by her decision to drink, and then taking the risk to drive.

Alcohol and epilepsy - Epilepsy Action

Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of having seizures for some people. This page has information about the risks of alcohol and epilepsy.

www.epilepsy.org.uk

Killed two children and injured 11, by driving into the building where a child's birthday party was taking place. That's one heck of a "seizure". Oh, and she remembers NOTHING. She was able to post the $1.5M bond less than one week after it was imposed by the Judge.

Honestly, if the woman wanted to drink herself into oblivion every day, 24/7, I'd say: "Go for it -- if that's what you want for yourself and your family," but stay off the roads. Don't get behind the wheel of a car, even if it is only to go to the nearby Boat Club. Maybe you've run out of booze at home, you're too drunk to walk, and your Boat Club would be closer to home. Less risk of getting a DUI -- and the drinks there would be cheaper than at a restaurant in town.

Good riddance, 66-year-old Marshella Chidester, former Commodore of the Swan Boat Club. You knew better. Enjoy the prison hooch.