MONROE COUNTY, Mich. – The trial for the woman accused of drunk driving and crashing her car through a birthday party, killing two children, in Monroe County continues Thursday.
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:
Day 3 recap
On Wednesday, prosecutors rested its case. The first defense witness, an employee at Verna’s, testified Wednesday afternoon.
Chidester told police she was at Verna’s a few hours before the deadly crash on April 20, 2024. She said she had a glass of wine with her food.
Investigators said her blood alcohol concentration was .18, which is over double the legal limit in Michigan.
The Verna’s employee testified she served Chidester a glass of wine but did not see her when she left—so she was unsure if she appeared drunk or not by the time she left.
Here are the updates from Day 4 of the murder trial:
Break for lunch
- 12:19 p.m. Thursday
Court goes on a lunch break until 1:30 p.m. The judge will give the jury instructions when they return.
Closing arguments begin
- 11:26 a.m. Thursday
Prosecution and defense begin closing arguments.
Prosecution’s closing argument
Prosecutors reminded the jurors of the injuries and deaths that happened as a result of the crash to consider the OWI causing injury and death charges.
They said Chidester’s blood alcohol concentration was .18, twice the legal limit in Michigan. Prosecutors also mentioned she took gabapentin that day.
Prosecutors reminded jurors that witnesses testified she was drunk because she smelled like alcohol immediately after the crash. Authorities also said she failed the field sobriety test.
Prosecutors brought up bodycam video shown earlier in the trial where Chidester admitted to police she wasn’t fit to drive and she was on medication.
Prosecutors said she left Verna’s at 12:15 p.m. with only a glass of wine but said to police she drank wine “about half an hour ago.”
“It’s true she had one glass of wine at Verna’s,” said the prosecution. “It doesn’t speak to the rest of the day.”
The prosecution said Chidester knowingly got behind the wheel with the intent to injure or kill because she drank throughout the day. They ask the jurors to consider the second-degree murder charges.
“She had to know that things were not right,” said the prosecution. “But she continued on. She continued on at full speed.”
The prosecution said this is not “a typical drunk driving crash.”
They replayed footage of her crashing into the building. “Look at those to determine her intent,” prosecutors said.
“It’s about justice for these two kids,” said the prosecution at the end of the closing argument while showing images of the two children killed.
Defense’s closing argument
The defense said Chidester has a clean record and doesn’t go around committing crimes.
He questioned why the prosecution didn’t bring evidence of Chidester holding wine in her kitchen hours before the crash earlier in the trial. He asked jurors to question the credibility.
“Actions speak louder than words,” he said as he reminded jurors that witnesses testified Chidester appeared sober prior to the crash.
“Maybe’s don’t convict,” said the defense attorney while questioning the evidence prosecutors presented. “Maybe’s not beyond the reasonable doubt.”
“‘Reckless intent to kill someone,’” there’s no intent to kill anybody,” said the defense as he asked the jurors to reconsider the second-degree murder charges.
He claims she never intended to drive into the building, calling it “insane” and “crazy” to allege that.
Before ending his closing argument, he questioned why authorities didn’t use a breathalyzer on Chidester immediately after the crash.
Court takes a break
- 11:11 a.m. Thursday
Court takes a 10-minute break. After, the jury is expected to hear closing arguments.
Kitchen camera recording in Chidester’s home shown in court
- 10:56 a.m. Thursday
Detective Hooper was recalled to the stand by the prosecution.
Hooper testified he found a camera in the kitchen area when he executed a search warrant of Chidester’s home and found video dating the day of the crash.
The video displayed in court shows Chidester holding a bottle of wine in the kitchen at around 9:30 a.m. on April 20, 2024. About an hour later, the video also showed Chidester holding an almost empty bottle of wine in her hand.
At 2:10 p.m., the video shows Chidester holding a glass of wine. About 20 minutes later, Chidester was holding an empty glass of wine and appeared to have refilled it.
Defense questioned Hooper whether or not if the footage was edited. He explained the video records based on motion activation.
Prosecution recalls detective
- 10:47 a.m. Thursday
Detective Kenneth Dodds was recalled to the stand by the prosecution.
Dodds testified that while executing a search warrant at Chidester’s home, he found multiple empty bottles of alcohol in a trash can. He said the empty bottle of wine that was found in Chidester’s car looked just like the multiple bottles of alcohol he found in the trash.
He said he did not find any full bottles of alcohol in the home.
He did testify, however, he searched the house two days after the crash happened. The defense implicated the alcohol could have been used by someone else.
Prosecution recalls Deputy
- 10:40 a.m. Thursday
Deputy Alec Preadmore from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was recalled to the stand. He testified he took part in the investigation and went to a towing yard to investigate Chidester’s car.
Evidence was revealed in court that an empty bottle of wine was found in the car while the deputy was investigating the car. He said it was in the center console of the vehicle.
The deputy testified he was unsure when Chidester may have drank the bottle of wine or whether or not she ever drank the wine.
Prosecution recalls party store employee
- 10:32 a.m. Thursday
Although defense and prosecution has rested their cases, prosecutors have recalled a witness to testify, a worker from a party store.
The party store worker testified he sold alcohol to Chidester at the store on April 20, 2024, at 9:01 a.m., according to a reprint of a receipt.
Defense rests, witness recalled
- 10:08 a.m. Thursday
The defense rests, prosecutors have recalled Michigan State Police forensic scientist Tabitha Faust to the stand.
She testified the blood sample were within normal limits and did not have clotting, meaning it was properly preserved.
Court on recess
- 9:47 a.m. Thursday
Court goes on recess until 10:05 a.m.
Forensic toxicologist testifies
- 8:45 a.m. Thursday
Okorie Okorocha, a forensic toxicologist, took the stand. The defense is having him testify as an expert in the field of toxicology. Before the trial resumed, there was discussion about the defense’s original toxicology expert not making it to testify. The defense requested that Okorocha testify instead.
Prosecutors, during cross-examination, claimed he wasn’t qualified to testify as an expert because he wasn’t aware of blood draw qualifications in Michigan, as he’s an expert from out of state. However, the court recognized him as an expert as he had testified in court numerous times prior with his knowledge in the forensic toxicology field.
He testified that when a blood sample is taken with the preservative in the sample tube, it’s required for the sample to be mixed properly by moving the tube upside down and right-sight up eight to 11 times. He said if it’s not done correctly, the blood sample is no longer reliable.
Prosecutors said Michigan State Police’s guidelines inform officers to invert the sample “enough” times until the sample and preservative is mixed.
The defense had argued previously the sample was not mixed properly with the preservative when Chidester’s blood was drawn for the investigation.
He also testified there should be no trace of acetone in a blood sample. Chidester’s blood sample had traces of acetone, but forensic scientists with Michigan State Police testified Wednesday that there wasn’t enough acetone in her blood to note in the results.
He also testified that a fermented blood sample, which the defense claims is what happened to Chidester’s sample, will increase the blood alcohol concentration through time.
Okorocha testified he was paid $5,000 to appear in court on Thursday.
Trial resumes
- 8:41 a.m. Thursday
Trial has resumed following a 30-minute delay.
Court delayed 30 minutes
- 8:12 a.m. Thursday
Trial has been delayed 30 minutes. It’s unclear why at this time.
It was initially scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
Trial to resume
- 8:05 a.m. Thursday
Trial is expected to resume soon.
