Wilcher Indicted on Homicide by Vehicle Charges
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The Toombs County Grand Jury met on Wednesday, September 4, and returned 20 true bills of indictment, inc luding one for Lauren Brooke Wilcher for her actions contr ibuting to a March 9 wreck that claimed the lives of two teenagers.
Wilcher, 18, of Uvalda, is facing six counts of homicide by vehicle in the first degree – which notes that the accident came “without malice aforethought.” She is also charged with three counts of serious injury by vehicle for the skull fracture which Ashton Caleb Howell sustained in the crash, driving under the influence (under 21) for driving impaired, driving under the influence (less safe) (com bined influence) for having both alcohol and fluoxetine in her system, and reckless driving for going 120 mph while navigating a curve in the rain.
The accident continued from page
took the lives of Miranda Brooke Williamson and Kyle Jackson, and left Howell critically injured, when Wilcher lost control of the vehicle while driving near the intersection of Georgia Highway 130 West (Adams Street) and Kingswood Drive just after midnight. The car left the roadway and hit a pine tree.
The Georgia State Patrol Post 18 (Reidsville) investigated the accident, and Wilcher was arrested on March 22 on two felony counts of vehicular homicide, a felony count of serious injury by vehicle, speeding, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and DUI under the age of 18 (alcohol). She was booked in the Toombs County Detention Center, but was released on bond that same day.
On July 18, Middle Judicial Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Robert Reeves revoked Wilcher’s bond after learning she had violated her bond terms by contacting fellow crash survivor Caleb Howell, staying out past curfew, and going to places which were prohibited in the document.
Judge Reeves spoke directly to the 18 year old, stating that he felt these violations were intentional, and suspended her bond. Wilcher was taken directly to the Toombs County Detention Center from court by the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, and will remain behind bars until her
trial. Now that Wilcher has been indicted, she will begin the process off entering a formal plea to the court, which will determine her next steps through the judicial process.
Hunt and Jordan Indictments The Grand Jury also indicted Patrick Cornelius Hunt and Jaquan Jordan on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Jordan), and possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer (Hunt) for their actions on March 16.
Hunt and Jordan were two of the five individuals believed to have been involved with the triple homicide of Justin Godfrey, Iesha Wicker, and Wicker’s unborn child on March 16.
According to the Vidalia Police Department, officers were dispatched to the intersection of East Jenkins and Epstein Streets at 5:02 p.m. on March 16. Upon arriving, authorities found Godfrey and Wicker suffering from gunshot wounds. The pair was driven by others at the scene to Memorial Health Meadows Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.
On March 21, officers arrested Kison Latrell King, Patrick Cornelius Hunt, and Jaquan Jordan, after a probe by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Vidalia Police Department pointed to them as suspects in the case. The Vidalia Police Department announced that Michael Anthony, Jr. and Fitzroy Anthony Ellis had also been arrested for these murders on April 13.
All five men were previously indicted on charges of malice murder (two counts), feticide, felony murder (two counts), and aggravated assault (two counts). Hunt and Jordan also were indicted on an additional charge each for possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer.
For these new charges, Hunt and Jordan will now enter their pleas regarding the case to determine their next steps.
Other Cases
Other individuals indicted included: Benjamin Rafael Coporan – failure to register as a sex offender Johnny Robert Childs – theft by taking Nicole Austin – furnishing prohibited items to an inmate David Christopher Grantham – possession of prohibited items by an inmate Michael James Walden, Jr. – possession of methamphetamine Jose Luis Lara –driving under the influence; hit and run Adrian Lopez, Jr. – aggravated sexual battery; criminal attempt to commit a felony; child molestation (three counts) Trierra Marie Williams – trafficking in methamphetamine Antonio Devon Knowles – obstruction of emergency medical personnel Littles Jo Donna Mayner – financial transaction card fraud (six counts); financial transaction card theft Jordan Carltodd Willis – battery (family violence); cruelty to children in the third degree Christina Ann Mills – aggravated assault David Mendoza Lopez – aggravated assault (family violence) (five counts); battery (family violence) James Derrell Davis – criminal attempt to commit a felony; burglary in the second degree (two counts); theft by taking Darien Keith Mincey – electronic transmission of material depicting nudity or sexually explicit conduct; terroristic threats Prentice Kawenm Davis – enticing a child for indecent purposes; pandering for a person under age of 18 (2two counts); child molestation These individuals will now enter their pleas of guilty or not guilty to determine whether they will go to trial or a sentencing hearing.
Jaquan Jordan
Patrick Cornelius Hunt
