MONROE, Mich. — In a tragic incident involving impaired driving, a Michigan woman was found guilty on Thursday of second-degree murder after crashing her SUV into a children’s birthday party at a boat club, resulting in the death of two young siblings.
Marshella Chidester, 67, had a blood alcohol level that was over twice the legal driving limit, as confirmed by evidence presented in court. Despite these findings, her attorney raised questions regarding the collection and handling of the blood sample, suggesting instead that a leg ailment contributed to the accident by causing her to apply excessive pressure on the accelerator pedal last year.
The jury in Monroe County deliberated for less than two hours on the fourth day of the trial before convicting Chidester of second-degree murder and other associated charges. The guilty verdict could lead to a potential life sentence.
Surveillance footage documented the SUV speeding at 44 mph (71 kph) on a bumpy dirt road before colliding with the boat club building near Lake Erie in April of the previous year.
Diane Medina, an adult attendee who suffered severe injuries, testified that prior to the crash, the event was filled with joy and described it as a “magical” birthday celebration for kids.
In the prosecution’s closing arguments, a key piece of evidence was a video captured inside Chidester’s home, depicting her consuming wine earlier on the day of the crash. Her residence is situated about 500 feet (152 meters) from the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Detroit.
It was acknowledged during the trial that Chidester also visited Verna’s Tavern earlier that day, where her alcohol consumption was indisputable. “All the evidence shows the drink at Verna’s wasn’t her first, or last, drink of the day,” assistant prosecutor Ken Laurain stated.
In defense, attorney Bill Colovos argued that Chidester, a past commodore of the boat club, had consumed just a single glass of wine along with a meal at the tavern. “In America, in Michigan, you’re allowed to have a glass of wine,” Colovos told the jury.
The victims of this heartbreaking crash were 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother Zayn Phillips. At the scene, first responders were met with what Sheriff Troy Goodnough described as an “extremely chaotic” situation.
