Woman, 66, faces murder charges following birthday party crash, killing 2 children

MONROE, Mich. (WTVG/Gray News) - A woman facing charges after police said she crashed a car into a birthday party while intoxicated, killing two kids and leaving more than a dozen people injured, had her first appearance before a judge in a Michigan courtroom on Tuesday.

Monroe County court filings show that Marshella Marie Chidester, 66, is facing 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 Saturday crash at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township killed two siblings, ages 4 and 8, and left 15 others injured.

Mariah Dodd and family(WTVG)

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said first responders took nine people to area hospitals. Two of them remained in critical condition on Tuesday, including an 11-year-old boy and a 31-year-old woman.

The sheriff said other people went to hospitals in private vehicles to get checked out.

Monroe County prosecutor Jeffery Yorkey requested a $1.5 million bond for Chidester, citing an alleged severe substance abuse issue and the high likelihood of conviction because of video evidence.

Chidester’s attorney countered and said his client has never even had a traffic ticket, has had seizures since November 2023 and was taking medication for sporadic paralysis of her legs. He said the surveillance video from Verna’s Bar, where Chidester was prior to the crash, showed her having one glass of wine and a bowl of chili.

The prosecutor responded and said Chidester’s blood alcohol content was over the legal limit.

This booking photo provided by the Monroe County, Mich., Sheriff's Office shows Marshella Chidester. The Michigan woman was arraigned Tuesday, April 23, 2024, on second-degree murder and other charges after prosecutors say she drunkenly smashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a child's birthday party, killing the 4-year-old birthday boy and his 8-year-old sister and injuring several other people.(AP)

In the end, Judge Christian J. Horkey set bail at the requested $1.5 million.

The murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The sister of one of the victims, Raquel Smithers, spoke at the hearing.

“We were supposed to be planning a birthday party for Zayn, not a funeral!” Smithers said.

Chidester’s next court appearance is scheduled for a probable cause conference on April 30 at 9 a.m. A preliminary examination is then set for May 6.

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