BERLIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The attorney for a Monroe County woman who crashed into a building and killed two children at a birthday party over the weekend offered the first glimpse of the defense strategy.
📄 FULL STORY: Aunt makes emotional plea against Monroe woman who killed 2 kids in crash
Marshella Marie Chidester, 66, was in court Tuesday for arraignment on eight charges, including two counts of second-degree murder.
Chidester is accused of being drunk and crashing her SUV into the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township around 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Two children -- Alanah Phillips, 8, and Zayn Phillips, 5 -- were killed, and their mother, older brother, and at least eight others were injured.
Police claim Chidester’s blood-alcohol level was “significantly” over the legal limit, according to a Monroe County prosecutor. The prosecutor also said that Chidester admitted at the scene that she had been drinking when she shouldn’t have been.
Chidester’s attorney, Bill Colovos, told a different story on Tuesday.
“Sometimes you have a seizure and your leg seizes up,” Colovos said.
The defense claims Chidester only had one glass of wine on the day of the crash. Colovos said she ordered that drink between 11 a.m. and noon, citing records from the nearby tavern.
Colovos also said Chidester has a history of “epileptic-type seizures” -- an issue that began in November. He said she experienced one of those seizures, and that’s what caused her to crash into the building.
The defense pointed out that Chidester had no prior criminal history -- not even a speeding ticket. Colovos said she’s retired and has lived with her husband at their home for 40 years.
Colovos also said that at the time of the crash, Chidester was not under doctor instructions that forbade her from driving.
Prosecution’s response
The prosecution pointed to the reported BAC, Chidester’s apparent admissions about drinking, and a history of alcohol use outlined by another boat club member.
Loved ones of the children who were killed said Chidester should have known it wasn’t safe to drive if she was having seizures. They also said she shouldn’t have been drinking at all if she was on medication.
You can watch the full arraignment here: