Trial for Quincy woman charged in 2020 crash that killed four moved to April

QUINCY — The trial of a Quincy woman charged in connection with the 2020 crash that killed four people has been moved to April.

Public Defender Todd Nelson filed a motion on Wednesday in Adams County Circuit Court to continue the case against Natasha McBride, 37. She 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 appeared in court remotely on Friday because of COVID issues in the Adams County Jail. She allegedly ignored a traffic light at Fourth and Broadway while driving at a high rate of speed, causing the crash. 

McBride 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. A 17th count, aggravated driving under the influence, was added to McBride’s charges on Jan. 11. (Amended information was filed the next day.) 

A pre-trial hearing had been scheduled for Friday in front of Judge Amy Lannerd. A jury trial was set to begin Feb. 7. However, Nelson’s motion to continue the case attributed the delay to the state.

“My belief is that the basis for that (aggravated DUI) charge was contained in discovery that has been in possession of the state for some time,” Nelson said. “That goes back to Dec. 7, 2020. I don’t know why the state has waited so long to charge that. That certainly presents a substantial change in the nature of this case. That charge involves different elements. We are going to need time to present and prepare a defense to that charge.”

Josh Jones, lead trial attorney for the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office, said he didn’t object to the request to move the case off the February trial docket.

“However, we do object to the delay being attributable to the state,” he said. “There’s been additional evidence come to light since Dec. 7, 2020. … Really, the only change we’re talking about is the addition of the aggravated DUI charge. We don’t believe the date, the delay should be attributable solely to the people. The people are certainly willing to go to trial in February.

“On the charges that the defense is requesting more time, we are not going to object to it, but it certainly can’t be on our motion. … The people are quite fine going to trial in February and not proceeding on the amended information.”

Lannerd eventually ruled against Nelson’s motion to attribute the delay to the state. She then moved the case to the April docket, then said Nelson could file a motion on the late filing of the new charge.

The hearing on Nelson’s second motion is set for Feb. 28. If no additional motions are filed, that Feb. 28 year also will be a status hearing. A jury pre-trial has been set for April 1, with the jury trial reset for April 11.

McBride continues to be held in the Adams County Jail on $5 million bond.