Marshella Chidester after the conviction
Marshella Chidester, 67, was convicted Thursday by a Monroe County Circuit Court jury of second-degree murder and drunk driving in the deaths of two children, whom she killed after crashing into the Swan Boat Club, which was hosting a birthday party, Fox 2 reported. She also injured more than a dozen people.
After four days of testimony and less than two hours of deliberation, jurors found Chidester guilty of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, the station reported.
Authorities charged that an intoxicated Chidester drove her Ford Edge into the boat club in Berlin Township, Monroe County, on April 20, 2024, injuring more than a dozen people and killing 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother, Zayn Phillips.
Defense attorney Bill Colovos says he plans to appeal. He argued that his client had a seizure before the crash and that the blood alcohol tests were inaccurate. Prosecutors said she had an alcohol blood level of 0.18, more than twice the legal limit.
Sentencing is set for May 15. Chidester faces up to life in prison.
