An initial hearing was held Friday afternoon for a Columbus woman accused of being under the influence of methamphetamine when she crashed her vehicle which resulted in the death of her 10-year-old daughter.
Six weeks after the Jan. 17 crash near Petersville, an arrest warrant was issued for Katelyn Mings, 29, of 3625 Nicholas Lane. Two felony counts were filed following a multi-agency investigation involving the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Police Department and Indiana State Police.
All charges were in connection with the fatal accident that claimed the life of Parkside Elementary School fourth grader Kayydence Mings.
Less than a week after her arrest, the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office filed amended charges that left the defendant facing four felonies:
- Causing death when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Level 4 felony
- Causing death when operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in the blood, a Level 4 felony
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a passenger less than 18 years old, a Level 6 felony
- Operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance or its metabolite in the blood, a Level 6 felony
If convicted on all counts, Mings could receive up to 29 years in prison, as well as fines of up to $40,000.
During Friday’s pre-trial conference in Bartholomew Superior Court 2, Special Judge Kim Van Valer scheduled a pre-trial conference for Mings for 9 a.m. May 27. The tentative date for her jury trial is July 22 at 8:30 a.m.
Sitting in for Judge Jonathan Rohde, Van Valer asked a series of questions that the defendant answered with either ‘yes, ma’am’ or ‘no, ma’am.’
Investigators say the defendant was driving a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder westbound on East 25th Street when the SUV veered off the right side of the road near the entrance to the former county landfill near Petersville. The vehicle hit a tree with such force that the tree was snapped in half, according to court affidavits.
While Kayydence Mings was pronounced dead at the scene, an infant found in the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was treated and released, investigators said.
Mings and a 28-year-old front seat passenger, Webster Gilcrease, were eventually taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. While their injuries were initially described as serious, their condition stabilized and both were eventually released.
Mings told the court she has hired Columbus attorney Elliot Happel to represent her, and asked whether her lawyer has already filed a bond reduction motion. The special judge replied she is unaware of the motion if it has been filed.
The defendant is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail, with bond set at $150,000 or $15,000 cash, jail officials said.
