MI v Marshella Chidester — Swan Boat Club Crash — SENTENCING

On March 6, 2025, Marshella Chidester was found guilty on all counts after the jury deliberated for just over 90 minutes. She was convicted of second-degree murder, driving intoxicated causing death, and driving intoxicated causing serious injury.

April 20, 2024: The Crash

Siblings Zayn and Alanah Phillips were killed when Chidester drove her car into the Swan Boat Club, interrupting a child's birthday party and injuring several other people. Marshella Chidester claimed she had a seizure while driving, causing her to crash into the boat club. However, the prosecution showed video of Marshella in her home consuming several glasses of wine before getting into her car. Marshella first backed into her neighbor's truck, moving it about 20 feet, hit a tree, and then headed towards the boat club.