Authorities jailed a Louisiana mom for crashing her car amid a high-speed police pursuit and killing her 5-week-old infant and boyfriend. Police believe she’d stolen baby-care items from Walmart, WSAZ reports, before they pursued her. Candace Gill, 38, was driving during the car wreck, failing to listen to orders to stop the vehicle.
Walmart employees alleged to police on May 9th that Gill and her boyfriend, Edward Williams, shoplifted baby items, the station reports. Shortly afterward, police spotted Gill’s silver Chevrolet Camaro. The filings state that the “officer pursued and activated his lights and sirens, but the vehicle failed to stop.”
Reports alleged that at one point, Gill drove on the shoulder, ran a red light, and crashed into another vehicle at an intersection. Williams died at the scene, and Gill’s baby was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Police believe the child was not properly restrained in the car before the crash.
Mom Fled Scene Of Crash
The mom allegedly fled from the scene but police later located her at an apartment complex. The following evening after officers received a tip on her location. Police reports did not make it immediately detail which baby items Gill allegedly stole ahead of the accident or if police recovered them. This tragic incident happened amid news of a national baby formula shortage nationwide.
Authorities charged Candace Gill with two counts of manslaughter, four counts of negligent injury, and one count of shoplifting. Jail records show that she is currently at Ouachita Correctional facility on a $21,950 bond.
