MONROE COUNTY, Mich. – The trial for a woman accused of drunk driving and crashing her car through a birthday party, killing two children, in Monroe County continues Wednesday.
Marshella Chidester’s trial began on March 3, 2025.
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Here are some key details about the case:
- The deadly crash happened on April 20, 2024
- According to police, her blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when she crashed into the Swan Boat Club in April 2024. Her lawyers argue she had one glass of wine.
- Two siblings, who were 8 and 4 years old, died in the crash, and several others were hurt. A birthday party was being held in the boat club at the time of the crash.
- Chidester was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating under the influence of liquor causing death and four counts of OUIL causing serious injury.
- If she is found guilty, Chidester could face life in prison.
Previous coverage:
Here are the updates from Day 3 of the murder trial:
Court adjourns for the day
- 1:37 p.m. Wednesday
Court adjourns for the day. A few more witnesses are expected to testify on Thursday.
Worker from Verna’s testifies
- 1:25 p.m. Wednesday
An employee from Verna’s testified she saw Chidester at the restaurant on April 20, 2024.
Chidester told police she was at Verna’s with her friends prior to the crash.
The employee testified Chidester ordered chili with a glass of wine and water at the restaurant. She did not recall if Chidester finished her wine.
She said she did not serve her more than one glass of wine, but she did say there was more than one server working with her that day.
She recalled the restaurant staff gave authorities a copy of Chidester and her friends' bills for the investigation.
She also testified Chidester did not seem drunk when she saw her, but she said she did not see Chidester before she left the restaurant.
Lieutenant returns to testify
- 1:16 p.m. Wednesday
Lieutenant Brian Quinn from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office returned to the stand Wednesday by Chidester’s attorney.
Quinn analyzed Chidester’s car’s event data recorder (EDR) following the crash. EDRs help understand how a car was functioning during a crash.
Quinn testified on Tuesday that the car’s EDR noted it crashed while in reverse, but the airbags did not deploy. He also said a second crash was recorded moments later, noting the gas pedal was inconsistently pressed to the floor just moments before the second crash, and the car was going 44 mph.
On Wednesday, Chidester’s attorney questioned Quinn whether he’s investigated medical-related crashes and their relation to Chidester’s case. Quinn said he’s not qualified to determine people’s medical conditions causing them to crash, just the data presented. However, Quinn testified he doesn’t believe he’s encountered a case like Chidester’s before.
Trial resumes
- 1:15 p.m. Wednesday
Judge decides to adjourn early for lunch
- 11:27 a.m. Wednesday
The judge has decided to adjourn early for lunch to give some time for witnesses to appear in court. Court is adjourned until 1:15 p.m.
Court resumes
- 11:10 a.m. Wednesday
Court goes on brief break
- 10:46 a.m. Wednesday
Court has gone on a brief break. Chidester’s attorney is expected to call witnesses to testify.
Prosecution rests
- 10:45 a.m. Wednesday
Prosecutors said they have no more witnesses to testify.
Michigan State Police Crime Lab - Toxicology unit supervisor testifies
- 10:15 a.m. Wednesday
Samantha Beauchamp, a supervisor in the Michigan State Police Crime Lab’s toxicology unit, testified she received Chidester’s blood sample for analysis.
She said that, like all other samples she receives, she checked to make sure there were no irregularities with the sample prior to analysis.
She testified she detected gabapentin in Chidester’s sample, a medication typically used to treat seizures and pain. She said this medication, mixed with alcohol, can exacerbate the effects.
Forensic Scientist testifies
- 9:30 a.m. Wednesday
Tabitha Faust, a forensic scientist from Michigan State Police, testified she received Chidester’s blood sample to conduct an alcohol analysis.
She testified the method of analyzing Chidester’s blood was treated as a typical alcohol analysis.
She said Chidester’s blood alcohol concentration was at a .18. The legal alcohol limit in Michigan is .08.
Court resumes
- 9:30 a.m. Wednesday
Court on brief break
- 9:08 a.m. Wednesday
Court goes on a brief break.
Forensic technician testifies
- 8:53 a.m. Wednesday
Kathy Hoeppner, a forensic technician at the Michigan State Police crime lab in Lansing, testified she was tested Chidester’s blood sample in the OWI investigation.
She said she took the sample into the lab when she received it from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, cataloged the information and gave the sample directly to the forensic scientist for further analysis. She testified she ensured the sample was not tampered with and was properly packaged.
Phlebotomist testifies
- 8:17 a.m. Wednesday
A phlebotomist testified she drew Chidester’s blood for the OWI investigation at the hospital the day of the crash.
She testified she was called for a legal draw in the hospital, so she did so in the emergency room. She said the difference between a regular blood draw and a legal draw is that she needed an officer present and fill out a checklist while drawing the patient’s blood.
During cross-examination, the defense attorney questioned the phlebotomist’s memory of collecting Chidester’s blood as she testified she has drawn blood for patients at least 5,000 times since April 20, 2024. The process of collecting Chidester’s blood has been questioned by the defense attorney since the beginning of the trial; he claimed it was done improperly, and the preservatives didn’t mix with Chidester’s blood sample.
Retired deputy from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office testifies
- 8:12 a.m. Wednesday
A retired deputy from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office testified Wednesday he was part of the investigation when the crash happened in 2024.
He testified he transferred the blood test Chidester took for the OWI investigation. He said the test was in his possession during transport from the hospital to the Michigan State Police crime lab.
He was questioned to ensure the blood test was not tampered with in the investigation, he testified nothing happened during the transport.
Victim injured in crash testifies
- 8:05 a.m. Wednesday
A 14-year-old testified he went to the birthday party with Mariah Dodds, his aunt.
He was in the main room when the car crashed into the building. He doesn’t recall exactly where he was, but he remembers waking up in a different area of the building.
He said he wasn’t able to stand up after waking up in the walkway area. He later learned he had a broken femur as a result of the crash.
Trial resumes
- 8:05 a.m. Wednesday
The judge has entered the courtroom, as well as the jury.
