Michigan woman faces trial for car crash that killed her little brother and sister at a birthday party

A Michigan woman is facing charges in connection with a car crash that killed two siblings and injured several other people who were celebrating a child’s birthday at a boating club.

Marshella Chidester, 66, was arraigned in Monroe County District Court on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the April 20 accident at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, about 30 miles south of Detroit.

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Authorities have said Chidester was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. An officer testified Thursday during Chidester’s preliminary examination in Monroe County District Court that a blood test at a hospital after the crash showed her blood alcohol content was .18. The legal limit for driving in Michigan is .08.

This booking photo provided by the Monroe County, Michigan Sheriff’s Office shows Marshella Chidester. The Michigan woman has been summoned to appear in court on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in connection with an accident that killed two siblings and injured several others who were celebrating a child’s birthday at a boating club. (Monroe County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

Officers said Chidester told them she was on her way to a birthday party at the boat club. She told an officer she “passed out” while driving.

Surveillance video played Thursday showed an SUV speeding along a dirt road leading to the boat club and then crashing into the building. When authorities arrived, police bodycam video showed the SUV stopped at a counter or wall while several injured people were treated by emergency responders.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Schmidt testified that the scene was in chaos. “There were injured people everywhere,” he said, adding that a small child who appeared not to be breathing was lying on the ground.

Killed were 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother Zayn Phillips. Among the injured were their mother Mariah Dodds and another sibling.

Dodds testified that the party was for a friend’s three-year-old child.

Defense attorney Bill Colovos opposed the charge of premeditated murder, saying there was no evidence that Chidester drove her vehicle with the intent to cause the defendants’ deaths.

At Chidester’s arraignment in April, he said she had consumed only a glass of wine and a bowl of chili four hours before the accident and had been suffering from “epileptic seizures in her legs” since November.

Prosecutor Jeff Yorkey argued at Chidester’s arraignment that she had a history of drug problems, which was confirmed by her friends and family. Yorkey also said there was no evidence that Chidester had suffered a seizure before the accident.

Home surveillance video taken shortly before the crash and shown in court Thursday showed Chidester holding onto a railing and walking step by step off her porch, then slowly toward her SUV, which was parked next to a garage. As she pulled out of the driveway, the SUV backed around the opposite side of the garage and slammed into a neighbor’s parked vehicle. The SUV then accelerated forward, past the garage, through the driveway and down the street.

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Detective Sgt. Jeff Hooper testified that Chidester’s home was about 150 yards from the boat club near Lake Erie.

Chidester’s arraignment in District Court is scheduled for July 12.