Wednesday hearing about dismissal of aggravated DUI charge in McBride fatal crash case to be closed

QUINCY — Judge Amy Lannerd ruled an evidentiary hearing will be closed Wednesday when she determines if an aggravated driving under the influence charge should be dismissed in the case of the Quincy woman accused of killing four people in a 2020 crash.

The hearing for Natasha McBride, 37, originally was set for Feb. 28. Her attorney, Chief Public Defender Todd Nelson, asked for a new date to file an amended motion.

The Adams County state’s attorney’s office filed the aggravated driving under the influence charge Jan. 12. Nelson previously argued prosecutors could have filed the charge earlier, saying it was based off evidence turned over in December 2020.

After agreeing to close Wednesday’s hearing, Lannerd said, “That does not mean, though, that prohibits the court from providing an explanation after the close of that hearing of the court’s ruling. It may be at that time after I hear that evidence that that information could be made available then.”

McBride faces four counts of murder in connection to the Aug. 14, 2020, deaths of Jenniffer Hendricks, 54, of Rushville, and Dakota Corrick, 6, Archer Corrick, 4, and Ransom Corrick, 21 months. The Corrick boys were Hendricks’ grandchildren. They lived in Kirksville, Mo.

McBride allegedly ignored a traffic light at Fourth and Broadway while driving at a high rate of speed, causing the crash. The Quincy Police Department said in its crash report that McBride admitted to smoking marijuana shortly before leaving in her vehicle. She also faces four counts of reckless homicide, four counts of driving on a revoked license and four courts of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. 

The case remains on the April jury trial docket, with a jury pre-trial set for April 1.

McBride remains in the Adams County Jail on $5 million bond.