Thibodaux man charged in infant's death following deadly crash
A man charged in a deadly crash that killed a Thibodaux woman has now been charged in the death of her infant, authorities said.
Mark Dyer Jr., 41, of Thibodaux, was already facing charges of vehicular homicide, six counts of first-degree negligent injuring, DWI and reckless operation of a vehicle.
He is accused of causing the crash that killed 20-year-old Emily Ledet of Houma and ultimately led to the death of her infant, Khalil Ledet. The May 1 crash also left several people injured.
Medical workers delivered Ledet’s baby before she died from her injuries, police said. After spending several weeks in critical condition, the child died May 27.
Related: Infant delivered after mom was killed in a Thibodaux car crash has died
The Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office said a medical examination determined the baby's death resulted from injuries he suffered in the crash, State Police said.
Dyer was taken into custody Saturday on charges of third-degree feticide, authorities said. According to state law, third-degree feticide is “the killing of an unborn child by criminal negligence.” Dyer was booked into the Lafourche jaiy, where he is being held on $250,000 bail.
Police said the crash occurred about 8 p.m. on La. 3185 at the intersection with Ridgefield Road in Thibodaux.
A 2022 Ram 2500 driven by Dyer was traveling south shortly before 8 p.m. on Ridgefield Road as a 2006 Ford Escape was driving east on La. 3185. As Dyer approached the intersection, he failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the Ford, causing both vehicles to travel off the roadway, authorities said.
Dyer suffered moderate injuries, police said. The other driver, who also was not wearing a seat belt, was hospitalized with critical injuries.
Ledet, a backseat passenger in the Ford, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected, police said. She suffered critical injuries and later died.
Four other occupants in the Ford were not wearing seat belts and suffered moderate injuries. Toxicology samples collected from Dyer showed his blood-alcohol level was nearly two times over the legal limit of .08, State Police said.
Dyer also faces three charges of aggravated assault with a firearm in a separate incident shortly before the crash, authorities said.
More: Driver charged with vehicular homicide, DWI in Sunday Thibodaux crash
Luling attorney Macy Lauren Ledet, who represents Emily Ledet’s family, said she is disputing the feticide charge because the baby had been born before he died.
"This child was not 'unborn,'" she said Sunday. "Khalil was able to breathe on his own. The definition of being born alive is: 'Live birth or born alive with respect to a member of the species homo sapient, means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of that member, at any stage of development, who after that expulsion or extraction breathes or shows signs of life such as beating of a heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached, and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of a natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or induced abortion.' "
"Khalil took several breaths on his own prior to passing," Macy Ledet added. "He fought for his life for almost a month. Louisiana revised statute 14:32.8 is not the correct charge in this case. This was negligent homicide of a child, not a fetus."
State trooper Ross Brennan said the charge resulted after authorities consulted with the Lafourche District Attorney's Office.
— Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanVCopp.
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Thibodaux man charged in infant's death following deadly crash
