Relatives of kids killed at birthday party on Michigan woman charged: 'She took those babies from us'

MONROE, Mich. — A 66-year-old former commodore of a Monroe County boat club was charged Tuesday with driving drunk and killing two children and injuring 13 others, though her attorney contended she had been having "seizures" in her legs before the crash that caused paralysis.

Marshella Chidester was arraigned Tuesday in Monroe County's 1st District Court on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing death and four counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury. She faces up to life in prison if she is convicted.

Chidester, 66, is accused of crashing her vehicle Saturday afternoon through a building at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township where a children's birthday party was taking place. Two siblings were killed in the crash: 8-year-old Lana Phillips and her 5-year-old Zayn Phillips.

At her arraignment, Chidester limped into the courtroom with her right arm in a splint.

Multiple family members of Lana and Zayn spoke to the Monroe County judge about their thoughts on Chidester's bond and what Chidester allegedly did. Bond was set at $1.5 million.

“She chose to drink and those were my grandbabies. She made the choice to get in that car and she chose to drink and drive and she took those babies from us,” grandmother Kathy Phillips said.

Bill Colovos, Chidester's attorney, said his client has no record and is retired, living a “peaceful life.”

“In 60 years on this earth, she’s never had any traffic involvement, she’s never had any law enforcement involvement,” Colovos said. “It’s horrible what happened, absolutely horrible …, but some things we don’t have control over.”

He said Chidester drives “like a little old lady” and has a history since November of having epileptic-type seizures in her legs that result in paralysis. She was treated for it that day, he said.

Someone on the Zoom feed interjected as the attorney was speaking and said, “She shouldn’t have been drinking.”

...continued

swipe to next page