Drunk driver appears in court with a cast after killing two kids

The drunk driver charged with the second-degree murder of two children appeared in court Tuesday with a cast on her right arm. Marshella Chidester, 66, has been accused of second-degree murder. She allegedly drove her SUV into the wall of Swan Creek Boat Club where a child's birthday party was being held on Saturday. Lana, eight, and Zayn, five, both died in the wreck in Berlin Township in Michigan, while their mother, Mariah Dodds and elder brother, Jayden, are fighting for their lives.
When she entered the courtroom Tuesday, the livestream showed Chidester enter with a cast on her right arm, seemingly indicating that she suffered an injury during the incident. The suspect has been detained since the crash. The judge granted her bond at the $1.5 million that the prosecution had asked for, at the request of some of the victims' families. Prosecutor Jeff Yorkey informed the court that Chidester had a history of substance misuse, which her friends and family had confirmed, in support of the $1.5 million bond. Bill Colovos, the defense lawyer, requested that the judge set Chidester's bond at $100,000. He claimed that she has suffered from 'epileptic-type seizures' in her legs' since November. He also claimed she had only consumed a bowl of chili and a glass of wine four hours prior to the collision. 'This is not a monster,' Colovos said. 'It's horrible what happened, but there are some things we don't have control over.' Chidester's lawyer also pointed out that she does not have a history of reckless driving or traffic tickets. Yorkey argued that Chidester showed no signs of having a seizure before the crash and that her blood alcohol level was 'significantly over the legal limit.' If the accused pays her bond, she will be forced to give up her passport, alcohol, wear a tether, and not drive. Chidester, who The Detroit News discovered was the former commodore of the boat club, is scheduled to appear in a probable cause conference scheduled for April 30 followed by a May 6 preliminary examination. The children's aunt, Raquel Smouthers, testified in court. She said she was at the party when Chidester killed her niece and nephew. 'They were sitting at that table eating, and this woman crashed her car through this building destroying all of our lives,' a nearly inconsolable Smouthers said. 'Nobody should ever have to go to a birthday party thinking that they're gonna die.' Dodds is suing Chidester and the tavern she allegedly drank at before getting back into her car, the law firm representing Dodds told AP News. She sustained broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and cuts and bruises while her son broke his legs, some of his ribs, and fractured his skull. A GoFundMe [www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...] has been set up to help cover funeral expenses for the children. #Chidester #Car #accident
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[@Raven72]

She looks drunk still.

[@phillipanderson7398]

Take alcohol away from an alcoholic and they are going to be in a wretched state.

[@jilliegirlie]

Sick of these drunks on the roads. They never learn.

[@1korincanima151-4]

If you drink, don't drive, the golden rule.

[@ralphee7487]

We are way past this mentality. Drinking and driving is looked at like J-walking was and is now. The majority of people think it's not that big of a deal to do it so they keep on doing it. I know, I bartended for many 12 years and 90% of the drinkers that I saw would get up and after drinking and walk out the door drunk and jump in their car. It's only going to get worse.

[@phillipanderson7398]

@@ralphee7487 I believe that once convicted of DUI you should never be given the liberty to drive ever again. A felon of a violent crime can never own a firearm and drink driving is a felony too. And a car can be a lethal weapon with a drunk behind the wheel.

[@miguelteixeira6566]

After you drink to much you don't know any rule. People with alcohol addiction just can't stop, it is a disease!

[@tacoman3000]

No remorse. Doesn't matter to her she can hardly remember. Throw away the key.

[@tedtheturbot]

How do you know that??

[@tacoman3000]

@@tedtheturbot the look on her heartless face says it all. That's how!

[@ANABOLIC_1105]

​@@tedtheturbotLook at her face idiot

[@colincharlton9339]

Those poor patients..my heart bleeds for them...am in tears here...R.I.P little ones...forever young..my the angels look after you..

[@DavidTa2]

Life in prison

[@travishancock2302]

She looks like she already drank a couple mini bottles hidden in her cast before the trial..!

[@daylehudson6810]

You took off what i was watching google

[@micky6312]

Why is bail even on the books.

[@Princessbuddy123]

Another senseless tragedy. If you can afford to go out drinking, you can afford an Uber, Lyft, or taxi. That poor family. My heart breaks for them.

[@carolynjones6524]

I feel the pain of the mother

[@rosejr2614]

Why isn’t she crying ? I’m in tears

[@Banker88]

She just wants another drink

[@ellenso9731]

Why did she not try to slow down before the crash?

[@christopherlaw9184]

An eye for an eye

[@soundtreks]

I can’t remember which country it was but they have capital punishment for those convicted of manslaughter due to drunk driving. That would be a helluva motivation to not drink and drive.

[@phillipanderson7398]

And nearly killing another nine people, two of which may die as they are still in critical condition in hospital. That may end up three or four deaths.

[@lyndamclean6786]

So she is pretending to be pathetic

[@MSkallywagg]

You drink and drive you go bye bye for ever

[@lyndamclean6786]

She looks like a drinker to me. U can tell my the nose and puffy skin. Ppl can’t lie about drinking cuz we can see it on them

[@Nick-zp8wk]

Drunk crashers make us drunk drivers look bad.

[@dereckjtbear2175]

She just Woke up from night out...🤬

[@shawnhuff3920]

This has got to be hard for this lady at her age to sober up and find her actions killed two children and injured others .. she looks as though the anxiety is a burden

[@robhill4352]

Yeah its sad.

[@Justin-td4bb]

Tbh she seems not very with it even when sober. So shouldn't be driving either way

[@davidfognini8526]

Nice lady😢

[@user-co6qj7ty2p]

She is drunk again

[@bettybelongia7213]

😢😢😢