A Logan County jury found a Tennessee woman guilty of murder Friday for a May, 2018 wreck on US 68 that killed an Auburn man.
Forty-nine-year-old Margie Johnson of Springfield was traveling west on Stevenson Mill Road on May 26th, 2018 when she failed to stop at a stop sign at US 68 and struck a minivan operated by 80-year old Carl Hodges of Auburn.
Hodges was ejected and died from his injuries.
Neil Kerr is the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Logan and Todd counties and says in a news release that Johnson registered a blood alcohol content of .242—three times the legal limit. He says Johnson said multiple times that it was her 15-year old son who had been driving her car, even after learning Hodges had died. Her nine-year old daughter was also a passenger in her car.
She later acknowledged she was driving, but said she stopped and didn’t see Hodges’ van. The jury was taken to the accident site to see the line-of-sight for themselves and Logan County Sheriff’s Deputy Clint Wright testified it was a clear day with nothing hindering her view.
After the jury convicted Johnson of murder, two counts of wanton endangerment and DUI—Kerr and defense attorneys came to an agreement on a 20-year sentence. Johnson must serve at least 85 percent of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Kerr is quoted as saying, “I believe this verdict sends a message to those that endanger the lives of others in Logan County by drinking and driving. If you drive drunk and kill someone, you will be convicted of murder. Plain and simple. Being drunk will not be a defense or an excuse.”