Zayn Phillips,Alanah Phillips Obituary, Death; – An inebriated driver has been charged with murder after colliding into a business in Michigan where a child’s birthday party was taking place, resulting in the tragic deaths of two young siblings, authorities revealed on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Saturday around 3 p.m. when Marshella Chidester, 66, crashed into the Swan Boat Club building in Berlin Charter Township. The vehicle came to a halt 25 feet inside the establishment, where the celebration was being held, according to Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough, who addressed reporters on Saturday.
During the arraignment hearing on Tuesday, Chidester faced charges of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol causing death, and four counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury. Her bail was set at $1.5 million.
On Monday, Goodnough provided an update stating that Zayn Phillips, 5, and his sister, Alanah Phillips, 8, were pronounced dead at the scene. It was not clarified whether the party was intended for either of the deceased children. Meanwhile, a third sibling survived the incident but sustained “severe injuries,” as confirmed by Andrew Brodie, the superintendent of Flat Rock Community Schools, a local public school district.
During the arraignment, Bill Colovos, Chidester’s attorney, claimed that his client had a history of epileptic seizures in her legs and lost control of the vehicle during the crash. He also mentioned that Chidester had consumed only one glass of wine four hours prior to the accident, as indicated by a search warrant executed at the bar she allegedly visited.
Colovos emphasized that his client, despite the tragic events, should not be labeled a “monster” and highlighted her lack of a criminal record. He expressed his own horror at the incident, stating, “It’s absolutely horrible. I have two children. It’s absolutely horrible. But some things we don’t have control over.”
Chidester appeared in court wearing a striped white and black prison uniform, with a cast on her right arm. Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery A. Yorkey disputed the claim that Chidester experienced a seizure during the crash, asserting that her blood alcohol level was significantly above the legal limit. However, he did not disclose the exact blood alcohol level.
