St. Louis man faces new DWI charge in crash that killed mother, daughter crossing street
ST. LOUIS – The 22-year-old charged with running down and killing a Chicago mother and daughter after a concert in downtown St. Louis is facing a new charge.
The grand jury added misdemeanor driving while intoxicated to the charges that Monte Henderson is up against. He’s already facing two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of armed criminal action.
Henderson faced a St. Louis judge Friday during a preliminary hearing. He pleaded not guily.
Laticha Bracero, 42, and her daughter, Alyssa Cordova, 21, were crossing the street on Valentine’s Day at 18th and Olive when a speeding SUV ran a red light and hit them, according to police.
Forecast: Rounds of severe weather Monday near St. Louis
Laticha and Alyssa’s family drove from Chicago to attend Friday’s hearing and saw Henderson for the first time.
“My family keeps being devastated,” said Laticha’s cousin Nicole Rivera. “Seeing him, obviously we anticipated it, but it hurts though.”
Rivera and the family took a gasp when Henderson entered the not guilty plea.
“We’re so angry [at] how someone can sit up there and plead not guilty, knowing he took them from us,” Rivera said.
Rivera and other family members went to 18th and Olive Friday after the court hearing. They had posters filled with pictures of the mother and daughter, candles and flowers. It’s the first time being at the scene of the crash.
Video the wreck had been leaked online. It appears to have come from a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Real-Time Crime Center Camera. Police officials said Friday an internal investigation is underway, but officials can’t comment more.
“That’s something you never want to see. When I was forwarded the video, I had already anticipated the video — it was going to be a hard image to see. I literally had no words. It was horrible. You can’t unsee it,” Rivera said.
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The 22-year-old suspect appeared in court wtih support by his side, hugging loved ones before going back home where he’s been ordered to house arrest.
“He sleeps in his bed, he eats at his table, he gets to hug his family, what do we got? We’re just broken,” Rivera said.
Henderson has no criminal record. Court records reveal he had a few speeding tickets in the last few years.
He’ll be back in court April 23.
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