Illinois Woman Accused of Intentionally Crashing Car to Kill Herself, Mother, and Son
Authorities allege Jamie L. Rhode drove head-on into a semi-truck with her mother and son as passengers, resulting in her mother's death.
An Illinois woman has been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly intentionally driving her vehicle head-on into a semi-tractor trailer with her mother and teenage son as passengers. The crash, which occurred on July 24 along US Route 54, resulted in the death of her mother and injuries to her son.
Jamie L. Rhode, 47, was taken into custody on Tuesday, facing two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. The Pike County Sheriff’s Office announced the charges after investigators determined that Rhode deliberately crashed her Toyota RAV4 into the semi-truck.
According to authorities, Rhode had picked up her mother, Cherie K. Wells, 73, from a nursing home shortly before the collision. Investigators stated that Rhode’s intention was to kill all occupants of her vehicle, including herself. Pike County Sheriff David Greenwood told People that Rhode “was afraid of dying alone” and that her plan was to take her own life.
The driver of the semi-tractor trailer was not injured in the incident.
Rhode was booked into Pike County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.