Michigan Woman Arraigned in Fatal Boat Club Crash
A Michigan woman, Marshella Chidester, 66, appeared in court on Tuesday to face charges related to a tragic crash at a boat club that resulted in the deaths of two young children.
Chidester is accused of driving her SUV under the influence of alcohol and crashing into the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County, approximately 30 miles south of Detroit, on Saturday evening. The crash occurred during a child’s birthday party, and as per prosecutors, Chidester’s blood alcohol level was significantly over the legal limit at the time of the incident.
The impact of the crash claimed the lives of 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother, Zayn Phillips. Their mother, Mariah Dodds, and another sibling were among the injured victims.
During the court hearing, which was live-streamed, Chidester’s right arm was in a cast, extending from above her elbow to her fingers. She has been in custody since the crash, and the judge set her bond at $1.5 million. This decision was made after the victims’ relatives requested the same.
Prosecutor Jeff Yorkey argued for the $1.5 million bond due to Chidester’s history of substance abuse, corroborating statements from her friends and family. Defense attorney Bill Colovos requested a bond of $100,000, claiming that Chidester had only consumed a glass of wine and a bowl of chili approximately four hours prior to the crash. He also mentioned that she had been experiencing seizures in her legs since November.
Colovos emphasized that Chidester is not a malicious person despite the severity of the incident and that certain events are beyond our control. He highlighted her clean driving record and lack of police encounters before the Saturday crash.
Yorkey countered Colovos’s argument by clarifying that there was no evidence of a seizure before the crash. He also stated that Chidester has been ordered to surrender her passport, refrain from consuming alcohol, wear a tether, and abstain from driving if she were to post bond.
A probable cause conference has been scheduled for April 30, followed by a preliminary examination on May 6.
According to The Detroit News, Chidester has served as the former commodore of the Swan Boat Club. The club, situated near Lake Erie off Swan Creek, is a membership-based organization that hosts events, provides docking space for boat-owning members, and offers its clubhouse and pavilion for rental to members for personal celebrations like birthday parties.
