MONROE COUNTY, Mich — The woman accused in a crash that killed two children in Monroe County during a birthday party Saturday was arraigned in court Tuesday, where she was charged with several counts, including murder.
According to filings at the Monroe County District Court, Marshella Chidester, 66, was charged with the following:
- Two counts of second-degree murder
- Two counts of operating while impaired by liquor causing death
- Four counts of operating while impaired causing serious injury
In court Tuesday, a judge set Chidester's bond at $1.5 million. If posted, Chidester will be monitored by GPS and must not consume any alcohol.
If convicted, Chidester could face up to two life sentences, two 15-year sentences and four five-year sentences.
Prosecutors alleged Chidester suffers from a severe substance abuse issue, which they claim family and friends have corroborated.
The defense asked for a $100,000 bond and home confinement for Chidester and disagreed with a murder charge. The defense also claimed Chidester suffers from a medical condition that causes paralysis of the legs.
Prosecutors said there was no evidence of seizure in Chidester and claimed her blood alcohol was significantly over the legal limit.
“My client is 66 years of age, has no record whatsoever. On 60 years on this Earth, she’s never had any traffic involvement or any criminal involvement," the defense said.
Family of the victims appeared in court via Zoom and in person to provide victim statements.
"Medical history or not, every medication tells you not to drink. She knew it, she shouldn't have done it," an emotional aunt of the victims, Raquel Smouthers said. "I had to see my deceased niece and nephew. I had to see their very last moment before that car was removed. It's a horrible, traumatic thing. I cannot close my eyes at night without seeing them babies and what they looked like."
Chidester is accused of crashing her vehicle into the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County around 3 p.m., where a children's birthday party was taking place. She is accused of doing so while intoxicated. The crash killed two siblings at the scene: an 8-year-old girl named Alanah Phillips and a 4-year-old boy named Zayn Phillips. The children were siblings.
"We were supposed to be planning a birthday party for Zayn, not a funeral," Smouthers said.
The deceased children's mother and 11-year-old brother were also seriously injured. Chidester was also charged for the serious injuries suffered by a 14-year-old male and an 18-year-old female in the incident, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.
"They walked into that birthday party having a fun time," Smouthers said. "They were sitting at that table eating and this woman crashed her car through this building, destroying all of our lives. Not just my family, everyone else that was in that building."
Multiple other victims received first aid, including adults and young children, and nine of those were transported to area hospitals, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.
According to the sheriff, the vehicle struck a wall before coming to a stop 25 feet inside the building.
"My nephew and my sister are still fighting for their lives today. I had to be the one to tell my sister her babies were gone when they removed her ventilator yesterday," Smouthers said. "She said, 'How am I supposed to live without my babies?'"
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct an error regarding Chidester's charges. New information made available in a Monroe County Prosecutor's Office press release was also added.